Box Score A hat trick by Gustavo Silva powered the Sunbirds to a 7-1 win over Bethesda University of California on Saturday and advanced to the NCCAA West Region Final against Azusa Pacific.

"We talked about coming out right out of the shoot and playing in their defensive half," said head coach Jaime Ramirez. "We did that with those first two goals and that fueled us the rest of the way despite a lull on our part in that first half."

The Sunbirds had their second highest offensive output of the season with seven goals. Silva's hat trick was followed by a pair of scores from Alvaro Nogales, and Renato Bustamante and Jorge Chedraui each added a goal.

FPU wasted little time getting things started scoring twice in the span of 41 seconds to in the third minute. Nogales got a cross from senior Chris Young that he slotted away into the side netting for a 1-0 lead. After dispossessing within seconds of the restart Chedraui laid a pass off for Silva who beat keeper HyeoCkjin Choi.

After dominating the possession for the first 10 minutes of the match, FPU pulled their foot off the gas a bit and allowed BUC to settle into a rhythm midway through the first half. Bustamante regained control of the momentum for the Sunbirds with a great fake to beat Choi and give FPU a 3-0 lead, which was quickly made 4-0 by a Nogales' second goal of the night and 10th of the season.

The Flames came out hot in the second half with lots of pressure that ultimately led to a penalty kick attempt in the 53rd minute. Mingyu Wee fooled keeper Andrew Luis and got Bethesda on the board with their only score of the night.

In the 75th minute Silva added to the FPU lead with a great free kick from 19 yards out that bent into the up right left corner of the goal after grazing the bottom of the crossbar. Two minutes later Silva netted his first career hat trick on a cross from Elijah Gallegos.

With the four different goal scorers the Sunbirds now have three players who have netted double-digit goals this season, led by Chedraui who scored his 14th.

FPU advances to the NCCAA West Region Final where they will face No. 2 Azusa Pacific for the second time in less than a month. The last time the two met the Sunbirds earned a 3-2 victory on a Gustavo Silva in the 88th minute. The win later proved to be the difference as FPU claimed its first PacWest title by virtue of a head-to-head tiebreaker with the Cougars.

"It is the Súper Clásico with us and Azusa, and it has been such a wonderful rivalry," said Ramirez. "They are going to come in with a purpose. This is an elimination for both of us and I think our guys are as excited as can be. You can bet Azusa will remember our last match."

APU defeated Arizona Christian 6-0 in Azusa on Saturday evening. Kickoff for the region title is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Ramirez Field on Thursday.