ATHERTON, CA — Menlo Men's Soccer closed out their first official season as a Division II team with a thrilling, hard-fought 1-1 draw against Biola University. Thursday afternoon's match was a testament to the Oaks' heart, grit, and determination, showcasing a team that has grown stronger together and proven their place in DII competition. The rest of the conference competes on Saturday which will determine the standings for PacWest postseason. Although Menlo is not in the running for postseason play during this first transition year, Menlo Men's Soccer is in a strong position to clinch co-Champions depending on the results!
A Team Goal That Made an Impact
The Oaks set the tone in the 37th minute when Biola was possessing the ball off of a goal kick. The Eagles selected to play short, which triggered the Oaks strong high-press on their back line. Donald Holliday would be the one to capitalize on a bad touch from the Biola defender and took the ball to the end line. He found Parker Faeth wide open in the 18-yard box and perfectly placed the ball to his head. Faeth redirected the hard cross past the Eagles goalkeeper and into the back of the net, giving Menlo the lead. Menlo was quickly defending the deficit while Biola's attack never stopped. The equalizer came in the 70th minute, and despite the opposition's pressure, the Oaks held strong. Today's draw showed that every player was willing to go the distance for their team. It was a goal – and a game – that reflected Menlo's fighting spirit and commitment to one another.
A Well-Fought Draw
Menlo displayed their attacking prowess with 16 shots compared to Biola's 8 and controlled the corners with 9 taken versus Biola's 7. Parker Faeth should fire off the 2 shots that were on goal for the Oaks, shooting 50% with one in the back of the net. Goalkeeper Martin Fiala stepped up with 3 crucial saves that kept the Oaks in the game, while Biola's keeper had 1 save. In a closely contested game, Menlo committed 10 fouls and received two yellow cards, while Biola had 6 fouls with no bookings. This draw was essential to the Oaks journey to the top of the PacWest Conference, which would be quite historic as a newly NCAA branded program. Head Coach Keith Lambert cannot help but feel extremely proud of this group of men that fought this entire team as a single unit.
Thank you Seniors!
With this sensational match, Menlo College Men's Soccer finishes their first DII season on a high note, and the Oaks look forward to building on this success. Menlo finishes the season with an overall record of 10-4-3, and an incredible 8-1-2 conference record in the first season in the PacWest. The Oaks will be graduating off 10 impactful seniors in the Spring who will all be missed. Today's game set the foundation for a promising future – and Menlo is just getting started.
