COSTA MESA – Men's soccer (7-4-4, 5-1-2) took a season-high 22 shots and shattered the crossbar twice, but could not splice together the decision over Biola (6-6-4, 3-4-2), as both teams split the points in the 1-1 draw Saturday afternoon at VU Soccer Field. The Alumni Appreciation Day fixture is VU's fourth draw of the season, with all four coming at home in an identical 1-1 fashion.

The result also officially shoots Vanguard off the pace of league leaders Point Loma, who now sit just three points away from their third consecutive Pacific West Conference title. Luckily, the Blue and Gold's primary season goal still remains intact: A top-four finish to secure PacWest postseason play. VU will need to stay wary, however, as their current third-place position will need to be bolstered in the final two matches of the season.

What Happened? Biola had the game's first shot, but Vanguard had the far better chances in the opening 20 minutes. Conducting the best looks on goal were Robert Ronco and Adan Alvardo, who were supplied well by Bryan Ortiz as the trio started the match fresh in the attack.

Ortiz set up the initial opening for Ronco in the 9th minute, after the freshman cut the ball back onto his left boot and sent in a cross from the right edge of the 18-yard box. Ronco was waiting in the box ready to pounce and generated loads of power on the standing header, which was darted to the bottom right corner for a standout stop from Francesco Tricarico in the Biola net.

Ronco was at it a little over a minute later, in what marked his best chance of the half and perhaps the entirety of the 90 minutes. VU made space from the right wing and clipped a cross diagonally that sped into the path of Ronco. Standing a few sets from the penalty spot, Ronco waited for the cross, then cut the ball back onto his right foot to steer and open up away from his defender. The space, though well crafted, couldn't quite accompany the shot, as the right-footed finish to the bottom corner could not wield the power to beat the keeper.

Alvarado was next to fire off a pair of efforts, with the midfielder taking two of the Lions' next three shots. His opportunities, though less clear-cut, still required saves to the same respective corners from Tricarico.

Alvarado was also a near creator to Tyler Williams in the 30th minute, after whistling across the edge of the box and passing the ball to Williams who was stood at the top of the penalty area. The shot from the left footed freshman could not warp into the corner to beat the BU keeper.

BU scored off a set piece a minute later. The ball from deep in BU territory was floated toward VU's box, and no Lion could get a definitive header on the ball. With the half cleared cross dropping at the edge of the box, BU's Lamar McKenize Jr. settled the bouncing ball, clipping a chip into the box, which was run onto and scraped under Aidan Hay by Luca McGreevey Couchman.

The Blue and Gold would start the second half with a visible hunger to go and win the game. Their shot count increased to 13 in the second half alone, which outpaced Biola's four, and VU also played braver in the ball-winning department, an area that had given them trouble against the much larger Eagles in the first period.

The grit was rewarded after three minutes of second-half gametime. Ortiz delivered an inswinging corner kick which bent toward the box and was redirected to the bottom left corner by Alex Martinez. The midfielder's header was his third goal of the season and for Ortiz was his third assist of the year, and second in as many games.

It was game on from there, but unfortunately for the home side it was the last goal of the game. VU, however, still made credible pushes to grab the go-ahead goal.

In the 65th minute, Sidney Dina worked his way from the right wing across toward the edge of the 18-yard box, but could not keep the left-footed shot down below the bar.

The Lions were also continually active on set pieces with their 11-3 lead in corner kicks. They connected on two great headers from Slater Hammer that were unable to ripple the back of the net. They also nearly capitalized on a frantic second ball off a corner kick, which was poked goalward but cleared off the line by an Eagle.

Luke Parker kissed one off the crossbar in the 72nd minute, after the freshman's persistent pressure on the BU backline earned him an interception and an ounce of space in the box, which he cracked from the right, across to the top left corner and out.

Ronco was next to hit the woodwork in the 77th minute. Anthony Medina floated a ball into the striker who started at the left wing. Then Ronco ran at his man and with a controlled body feint and sharp cut sent his defender to ground. Ronco went straight for the goal, smacking the ball past the keeper, but not past the top right corner as it launched to the other end of the sideline.

BU never saw a true look on goal in the second half. Two of their four shots in the frame were consecutive efforts into a VU wall during a free kick routine, and their last effort came in the dying moments with a shot that sprayed well wide. The Eagles, however, did what was necessary, surviving with a point to deny the Lions a crucial PacWest victory.

What's Next? Dominican is next on the schedule with a weekday fixture on Thursday, November 6 at 1:30 pm.