FULLERTON, Calif. -- The NAIA's No. 3-ranked Azusa Pacific got all the shots it wanted but could only muster one goal.

Fortunately for the Cougars, it was all they needed as they kept Hope International silent for most of the day in getting a 1-0 GSAC win over the Royals.

With the win, the Cougars improve to 15-0-1 overall, 9-0 GSAC and clinch no worse than a tie for their first GSAC title since 2001. The Cougars need either a win or tie Saturday vs. Point Loma or a Vanguard loss to Biola to claim the title outright.

Hope International falls to 2-13 overall, 1-8 GSAC.

The Cougars, who were without the services of defenders Phil Hoyt and Chandler Harris, both of whom were out with injuries, pelted Royal GK Mark Abate with 27 shots as they out-shot the Royals, 27-8.

But it wasn't until the 66th minute that they hit paydirt. Brandon Strim fed NAIA All-American and GSAC Player of the Year candidate Andriy Budnyy, who eluded a defender and hammered home the Cougars' only goal just under the crossbar. The goal is Budnyy's 16th of the season in 11 games, which ranks third in the GSAC trailing only Fresno Pacific's Orlando Ramirez (21 goals in 16 games) and Vanguard's Matt Hess (20 goals in 17 games).

"It was just one of those days," said Azusa Pacific head coach Phil Wolf. "We were without a few players, we couldn't finish, and this field was tough to play on. It was a bad combination. But, we got the job done and got the win."

Cougar GK Julian Cottrell, who was making his second consecutive start, was rarely tested but did make 4 saves to get the Cougars' fifth shutout of the season.