Following a 7-1 thumping of Bethesda University of California on Saturday the Sunbirds are just one win away from a return trip to Florida and the NCCAA National Championship. In order to punch their ticket FPU will have to take down conference rival Azusa Pacific on Thursday at 6 p.m.

The PacWest runner-up Azusa Pacific defeated Arizona Christian of the NAIA 6-0 on Saturday in the West Region Semifinal behind a pair of goals from midfielder Billy Flores.

The Last Time They Met

The Sunbirds put on a show in the final 10 minutes on October 30 rallying from down one goal to complete the comeback and win 3-2 despite being a man down. The win made it three straight wins over one of the most storied programs in the conference.

Freshman Jorge Chedraui knocked in the first goal of the match in the third minute on a through ball from defender Ivan Mirkovic. Azusa Pacific answered with a penalty kick conversion by Oktay Bulut in the 27th minute followed by a goal by Keenan Armburst in the 38th minute to give the Cougars a 2-1 lead.

After a red card was issued to Luke Tyler in the 80th minute the Sunbirds looked to be on their way to their first home loss of the season. But, two minutes later Alvaro Nogales headed in a cross from Eric Velarde to even the match up. In the 88th minute Gustavo Silva got behind the defense and nailed the game-winning goal.

The Sunbirds and Cougars both finished the conference season with 30 points, and the goal by Silva proved to be the conference championship winner by virtue of head-to-head.

What to Expect
The Sunbirds have been on fire since returning from a disappointing 2-2 road trip to Hawaii in October. FPU has gone on to win six straight matches, their longest winning streak of the season, by a combined 25-9 margin. On the season the Sunbirds have scored a conference-high 61 goals in 19 matches.

Azusa Pacific has also been one of the hottest teams all season in not only the conference, but the season. The Cougars have won 15 of 17 matches since a 0-2 start to the year.

FPU has been clicking offensively in the latter stages of the season, primarily from Chedraui, Nogales, Silva and Renato Bustamante. The lethal combination has produced 22 of the 25 goals scored during the Sunbirds win streak.

It will be another battle of wills, as both teams' strengths will be put to the test. APU has boasted one of the toughest defenses in the conference and in the NCCAA all-season long, one that has allowed a meager 1.00 goals against average to opponents. Azusa is led in the back by sophomore Nate Nugen, senior Jamarko Washington and goalkeeper Chip Cox, a combo that has surrendered 19 goals in 19 matches including eight shutouts.

Offensively the Cougars lean on their star midfielder Bulut who is the only APU player to register double-digit goals this season with 10. Freshman forward Keenan Armburst has been impressive this season scoring eight goals and adding an assist.

The Sunbirds will have their work cut out for them once again defensively especially with holding midfielder Eric Velarde missing the match on Thursday. FPU has allowed 27 goals this season averaging 1.42 goals surrendered per match. Senior goalkeeper Fabian Rangel has been one of the top net minders in the conference allowing just 19 goals on the season and holding an 11-3-1 record while making 51 saves. Rangel is backed up by a veteran group of defenders that includes center backs Luke Tyler and Ivan Mirkovic.

The game is set for a 6 p.m. kick-off at Ramirez Field between the Sunbirds and the Cougars. Tickets are $3 for all fans, children 6 and under are free.