After its strongest season in two decades, Biola's men's soccer team opened the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) tournament and will play in the second round of the tournament in Fresno against Hastings College (Nebraska) on Tuesday, December 1, 2009 at 4:30 p.m. The Eagles advanced to the second round of the tournament with a 4-3 win in a penalty kick shootout against the University of Texas-Brownsville on Saturday, Nov. 21. The game ended in a 2-2 tie.

Men’s Soccer Head Coach Bryan Kuderman, who has been coaching with Biola for eight seasons, said the success of this year’s team is not only an attribute to the hard work of this year’s team, but also a culmination of effort from the last eight seasons.

“This years team is the recipient of several years of labor,” said Kuderman. “It is always about the team, not the coach when winning games in soccer. We have a great deal of talent, as well as, proper attitude and chemistry. The boys really love each other and it shows.”

The Eagles, who finished the season with a 13-4-2 overall record and were ranked No. 12 in the final NAIA National Poll, earned the sixth and final at-large berth in the field spot. Biola is still looking for its first win in the tournament on Saturday, posting an 0-2-2 overall record in those two appearances.

Defense has been the cornerstone of the Biola soccer team this season. The Eagles have allowed just 15 goals in 19 matches this season and have recorded a school-record 11 shutouts. The team is expected to do well at the tournament.

Sophomore goalkeeper Aaron Fenlason, was integral in a pair of Biola wins during the Golden State Athletic Conference Tournament and was named NAIA defensive player of the week twice this season. Alongside, junior forward Kennedy Chongo, they pushed the Eagles higher this season with exceptional play. They were named the final GSAC Men's Soccer Defensive and Offensive Players of the Week, respectively, for the 2009 season. Although Fenlason and Chongo received outside recognition, the whole team has truly played a dynamic season.

“We have proven in every single game we played this year that we are good — really good in fact,” said Kuderman. “If we stay strong in the back…we will be exactly where we want to be. Hopefully, the result will follow.”

The Eagles need to focus on the “process” as Kuderman says — controlling the things that the team works on and must be committed to stay focused on those elements throughout the game. He believes the team is very talented and has the ability to beat anyone i