Tuesday, September 28, 2004 (4:00 PM)
#5 Azusa Pacific def. #2 FPU 3-0

Box score

Azusa - So much for FPU's season-long 8-match win streak.

All the No. 5 ranked Azusa Pacific University Cougars needed to upset the No. 2 Sunbirds was Brandon Strim's third goal of the season, just 2:13 into the match,

But they got much more.

A pair of goals by Andriy Budnyy, at 24:00 and 30:49 salted this one away before half-time.

Strim's goal came on a counter attach after an errant FPU pass in the midfield.

"They came out with a sense of urgency and we didn't. That's pretty much the story," FPU head coach Jaime Ramirez said.

"They really took it to us in the first 15-20 minutes, and we didn't respond well," continued Ramirez. "We had our chances. Adam (Arteaga) missed two wonderful headers off corner kicks when it was 2-0. You just have to finish when you get the opportunities in a match like this. You can't squander them. There is a lesson to be learned here."

For those that don't think history repeats itself- think again. In 1997 the Sunbirds were cruising along at 8-0-0 when the Cougars handed them their first loss of the season, a 2-1 overtime affair in Fresno.

FPU is now 8-1-0 overall and 0-1-0 in GSAC while the Cougars improve to 7-0-1 and 1-0-0.

The Sunbirds return home this Saturday when they host Concordia. Kick-off time at Steinert Field is 7:00 PM.

Updated records
#2 Fresno Pacific 8-1-0
#5 Azusa Pacific 7-0-1

Updated series records
Overall - FPU leads: 21-16-3
GSAC - APU leads: 12-11-2
At APU - FPU leads: 9-8-2
In Fresno - FPU leads: 12-8-1
Postseason - FPU leads 2-0-0
Last 10 matches: Tied 5-5-1