Biola’s Carlos Ballesteros scored just over 15 minutes into the second half and the 17th-ranked Eagles made it stand up in a 1-0 victory over The Master’s College Wednesday afternoon on Reese Field.

Dropping the GSAC opener for both clubs, the Mustangs lost for the third time in their last four outings and were shut out for third time this season as they fell to 4-5 overall.

Ballesteros’ tally came at the 15:43 mark of the second half, snapping a scoreless tie that had featured just three shots on goal up to that point.  In fact, it was the Eagles who owned those shots, all of them being saved by Mustang goalie Andrew Bussell.

However, the Mustang keeper could do little to keep Ballesteros’ shot from going between the pipes.  The junior forward took a throw-in from Stephen Tanquary and booted the ball past Bussell for what proved to be the game-winner.

It almost wasn’t, however, as the Mustangs had a couple of great opportunities to tie the game in the final 13 minutes of action.  The first of those came off the head of freshman AJ Rochow at the 77:44 mark but Biola goalie Joshua Crichton tipped the ball over the crossbar, preserving the lead.

Then, with just over three minutes left to play, senior defender Austin Michelson used his head, too, just missing on a cross that he hit wide.

Mustang coach Jim Rickard was pleased with his team’s performance, saying that “we just weren’t able to finish our chances.”

HIs squad will have another chance to make good on those opportunities and even its GSAC record on Saturday when the Mustangs travel to play Arizona Christian in Scottsdale.