Sarina Coutin converted a penalty kick in the 11th minute and Biola's defense made it stand up as the continued their hot play as of late with a 1-0 victory over Westmont College in a GSAC match on Tuesday afternoon.

Biola picks up its fifth-straight win and eighth in its last 10 matches to improve to 8-5-0 on the season and move into a tie for first place place with Point Loma Nazarene in the GSAC standings with 15 points and a record of 5-1-0. The Sea Lions host Concordia University in a GSAC match on Wednesday. The Warriors fall to 9-4-0 and to 4-2-0 in GSAC play.

The Eagles jumped out to the early lead after a foul in the box early in the match. Coutin took an initial shot which was blocked by a defender. As she went for the rebound, a Westmont defender pulled her jersey from behind, resulting in a penalty kick. She stepped up and sent the kick to the lower right corner to give Biola an early lead.

From there, the defense took over, holding off the high-powered Warriors' attack. Westmont had a number of great chances to get on the board, the best of which came in the 72nd minute after a Biola handball in the box gave the Warriors a PK attempt of their own. However, Biola senior goalkeeper Erin Frushon, who was named NAIA Defensive Player of the Week earlier in the day--made a fantastic diving stop of the spot kick to keep the Eagles slim lead.

Frushon also made another great save in the first half, leaping to get a fingertip on a ball that was heading over her and touch up and off the crossbar where it was cleared from danger.

Frushon finished with a four-save shutout, facing 14 shots to earn her fifth shutout of the season and third in six GSAC matches.  

The victory was just the second win by the Eagles over Westmont in 28 all-time meetings and the first-ever win in Santa Barbara. The goal was Biola's first against the Warriors in the last four seasons.

Biola's next match is a big one as the Eagles travel to San Diego to face No. 3 Point Loma Nazarene University in what will be a showdown for the top spot in the conference. If the Sea Lions defeat Concordia on Wednesday, they will hold a three-point lead for first place in the GSAC. If they lose, the two teams will be tied heading into the Saturday showdown. The match is slated for a 12:30 p.m. kick off.