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Paul Islas scored three first half goals on Wednesday night, leading FPU past the visiting #5 Azusa Pacific and snapping the Cougars' 7-game win streak. It also snapped a 7-game losing streak for the Sunbirds against APU. Coming into today the last time FPU had defeated the Cougars was 2005.

Islas, who scored just six minutes into the game, was a nightmare for the APU defense all night. Meanwhile the FPU defense was in lockdown mode with Guilherme Machado specifically stopping Cougar chances all over the field. Fans were treated to some of the best college soccer they'll see all year, but it was the Sunbirds on both ends of the field who clearly distinguished themselves as the better team tonight.

"These are the kind of games that can define a season," said FPU coach Jaime Ramirez afterward. "We've got to keep our feet firm on the ground and realize that there are many teams in this league that nearly as talented or just as talented. We've got to prepare for those games in the same manner we prepared tonight."

The Sunbirds (6-3, 2-0 GSAC) won their third game in a row and became the first NAIA team to defeat the Cougars (7-2, 1-1 GSAC) this season. The team executed their gameplan to perfection in the first half, getting the ball to their playmakers, like Fabricio Nazare, Gustavo Silva and Islas, and allowing them to create offense. APU goalie Joe Geletko entered the game with a 400-minute scoreless streak, but that would come to an abrupt end.

Islas gave the Sunbirds a 1-0 lead six minutes in with a difficult chip shot that lobbed its way over the keeper's head. The junior forward, who has already captured GSAC Player of the Week honors twice this season, showed his versatility as a goal-scorer tonight, using his technical ability for the first goal, his speed for the second and his power for the third.

"When you have a special player like Paul and he's in the zone, it's going to be very difficult to stop us," said Ramirez.

Islas put the Sunbirds up 2-0 in the 24th minute when Silva stole the ball from a defender on the outside before delivering a perfect pass that hit Islas in stride splitting the defense. Islas, far quicker than any APU defender, would finish the breakaway goal giving the APU keeper no chance.

After the second goal the Sunbirds really began to have momentum. Until that point, APU had still taken slightly more shots than the Sunbirds, but for the next 20 minutes FPU kept attacking delivering an onslaught of shots. The team had some prime chances in that span but looked to be heading into the break with a 2-0 lead before Islas settled a ball that had been worked around the box by Guillermo Talancon, Nazare and Bruno Pessoa, and blasted it in from 25 yards out.

APU found itself in very unfamiliar territory down 3-0 at halftime and would come out of the break poised to get back on the attack. Though Oktay Bulut would find the net for the Cougars in the 59th minute to make the score 3-1, the Sunbird defense played exceptionally to thwart  APU's chances.

"I continue to be pleased game by game with our defensive effort," said Ramirez. "Gui [Machado] has really been a difference-maker there."

Adrian Arias put together another gem of a game, in addition to the aforementioned Machado. Luke Tyler and Chris Young were major factors as well, as were Eric Velarde and Alexis Hernandez helping out from the midfield. Goalie Steven Waite made a couple phenomenal saves, finishing with five on the night.

The last time FPU defeated APU was in 2005 when Adrian Alvarado's golden goal in overtime gave the Sunbirds a 3-2 victory. With the win, FPU retakes the all-time series between the two storied GSAC programs and is now 23-22-4 all-time vs. APU. The game was played in front of a large home crowd, despite occasional rain. The Sunbirds are 5-0 this season on their home field and 2-0 vs. ranked opponents (defeating #16 Holy Names 5-1 earlier this season).

FPU travels south this Saturday to take on Point Loma Nazarene in San Diego at 2:30 pm. The Sea Lions (7-2-1, 1-1 GSAC) lost to APU 1-0 on the road before defeating San Diego Christian 1-0 tonight.

Around the GSAC
Biola 1, Hope International 0
Point Loma Nazarene 1, San Diego Christian 0
Concordia 2, Vanguard 1