AZUSA, Calif. – For the second straight year an Azusa Pacific men's soccer player led the squad to a win via a hat trick.

Aleksandar Pumpalovic scored three times as the Cougars posted a thrilling 3-2 overtime win against Hawai'i Pacific on Saturday evening.

HOW IT HAPPENED: The see-saw game forced the Cougars to rally despite scoring the game's first goal. Pumpalovic netted the contest's first goal in the 24th minute on penalty kick. Hawai'i Pacific got the equalizer in the 40th minute. Lucas Libbra was able to gain enough possession of a loose ball in the box to find the back of the cage.

The Sharks took the lead in the 56th minute as Josch Cuerten converted a penalty kick after Azusa Pacific was called for a hand ball in the box. Less than seven minutes later Pumpalovic scored his second penalty kick after the Sharks were called for a foul in the box.

Pumpalovic finished the game with a net-finder from in-close. He deposited the ball into the back of the net after receiving a nice pass from Kaleb Armbrust in the 99th minute.

HAT TRICK: Last season Tim Ogunniyi had a hat trick when he scored four goals in a Cougars win against Academy of Art

QUOTABLE

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

- Each team took 14 shots with Azusa Pacific holding an 8-5 edge for shots on goal
- The Cougars had a 10-4 corner kick advantage
- Pumpalovic and Armbrust took a team high six and four shots respectively
- Brendan Fix made three saves to earn the win in front of the goal

OVERTIME WINNER: The golden goal winner is the first for the Cougars since Keenan Armburst scored in overtime at Holy Names on Nov. 5, 2015. The squad had gone 12 straight overtime contests without an overtime victory.

UP NEXT: The Cougars host No. 6 California Baptist on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.