COSTA MESA – Vanguard's best run of form for the season was put on pause after a 0-0 draw against Biola Saturday afternoon at VU Soccer Field. Though it's another point in the Pacific West Conference, the Lions were unable to pull out the win, despite Biola playing down two players for the final 22 minutes.

The draw is just the fourth all-time between the programs and the first goalless draw in the matchup since September 2007. The Lions will move to 5-7-2 overall and 3-4-1 in PacWest play. The Eagles (3-4-9, 0-3-6) stay winless in the league but push for a resilient result in their ninth draw of the season.

Vanguard led in total shots 13-6, with each team placing five on target. Corner kick trades also went to VU, with a 5-2 lead, including four in the second half.

What Happened? Lily Fama was one of the Lions to take the initiative early on, making dangerous runs up the right from right back with her sleek dribbling. The sophomore created space for the opening shot of the match in the ninth minute, with the effort going over the bar.

BU began their advances toward the VU net in the 11th minute, with a shot down the middle which was snagged by Josselyne Navarrete. The Eagles would force three saves from the VU keeper in the half.

The rhythm of the first half saw its share of free-flowing movement as well as more jagged stretches between both sides. VU made heavy use of their bench within the first 14 minutes of gametime and cycled the ranks often to try and wear down Biola. The introductions of Kennedy Cypher and Kaitlyn Currier gave the Lions much-needed momentum swing to try and overrun the midfield, with Cypher firing two of her three shots in the first frame. Lindsey Hiraki also added a positive punch in the middle of the park, as the freshman went on to tally a season-best 51 minutes.

Biola settled into the half as the match went on, piling a healthy share of possession and utilizing their front-loaded formation to control the tide heading into the break, as the Lions were without a shot on goal in the first 45.

The second half cranked up the game's drama immediately. Less than two minutes from kickoff, both teams narrowed on their best chances of the match. The Eagles swept through in the 46th minute after a sharp turn from Payton Nelson beat her mark and produced the angle for her shot down the middle, which was saved by Navarrette.

The Lions immediately broke on counter, with fluid linkup play between Alana Heem and Francesca Lindstrom. The ball was rolled ahead into midfield from Vanguard's defensive clearance, and Heem was first to it, cutting across her defender to pick up an ounce of space. Picking up her head, she slipped in a well-weighted through ball to Lindstrom, who was off and away from the BU defense. The senior seemed set for her second goal in as many games, but her one-on-one attempt was denied with a stellar stop from the Eagle keeper to keep the score at 0-0.

The shifting theatrics didn't stop there, as the game took another turn with a BU red card just nine minutes later. The red was a straight send-off after an altercation following the whistle, which likewise left the Lions with a subsequent yellow card. The Eagles' fortune also continued to dip after another unfortunate red card 12 minutes later, with yellow card accumulation bringing Biola down to nine players with 22 minutes left in the match.

The position favored Vanguard's third successive win, but BU was far out for the count.

The Lions outshot Biola 8-0 for the remainder of a game, but never carved anything too imposing. The Blue and Gold struggled to move the ball quickly in the final third, as Biola continually shifted its formation to compensate for shifting numbers. The Eagles were also outstanding in one-versus-one defensive situations, as VU's dribble attempts to penetrate the defensive lines were repeatedly thwarted by timely challenges. Currier called for the final BU save of the day in the 86th minute, with a sliced effort through the middle of the goal.

Cypher finished as the team's letting shot taker at three. Lindstrom, Kate Burns, and Avery Hanhauser sent two toward the Eagle net. Rachel Penick, Audrey Swanis, Fama, and Currier were the final Lions to register a shot.

What's Next? The Lions face another test as they welcome third-place Dominican on Thursday, November 6, at 11 am.