AZUSA, Calif. -- Azusa Pacific passed a crucial test at the halfway point of the path towards the Pacific West Conference title Thursday night, as the No. 14-ranked Cougars posted a 2-1 win over Fresno Pacific in a battle between two of the PacWest's best so far this year.

With the win, Azusa Pacific extended its winning streak to eight games, improving to 11-1-1 overall and 6-0 in PacWest play with five games left in the regular season. Fresno Pacific's six-game win streak was snapped, as the Sunbirds fell to 9-2-1 overall and 4-2 in the PacWest.

James Ndubueze and Gabriel Costa scored in the first 25 minutes of the game to give Azusa Pacific an early 2-0 lead before Fresno Pacific answered the two-goal halftime deficit with Jose Segura's finish in the 60th minute to set up a frantic 30-minute back-and-forth finish.

"These are clearly two very good teams, and this game was a little bit of a rollercoaster," Azusa Pacific head coach Dave Blomquist said. "Both teams had good spells, and both teams had some struggles through other parts of the game. I don't think either team played as good a level of soccer as we are capable, but I think that was at least partly due to the magnitude of the game and the emotions that were in it."

The Cougars took an attacking mindset from the opening whistle, as Costa got a quick shot on goal less than 30 seconds into the game after Arturo Astorga intercepted a pass inside the Fresno Pacific penalty area and centered quickly to Costa for a shot on goal saved by Sunbirds goalkeeper Patrick Timmer. Less than six minutes later, Costa took a free kick from just outside the box and grazed the crossbar for another near-miss.

The Cougars broke through for the game's first score in the 14th minute, when a steady buildup of possession resulted in Kyle Diaz with options on a cross from the right side. He placed it to the feet of Ndubueze at the far post for a short finish past the goalkeeper to give Azusa Pacific a 1-0 lead.

The second goal came just 10 minutes later on a quick counterattack, as Astorga sent the ball across the midfield line forward to Ndubueze. He took several touches towards the goal, drawing a trio of Sunbird defenders who left Costa open to the left. Ndubueze slid the ball across to Costa, who delivered a low left-footed finish inside the right post from 15 yards out.

The goal was Costa's 12th of the season, which ranks second in the PacWest, and he has scored in 10 of Azusa Pacific's 13 games this season, including eight of the past nine. He has scored or assisted goals in nine consecutive games.

In the second half, Fresno Pacific fired 14 shots, and Segura delivered the finish on a quick cross from the left side from Joao Ravasio, cutting the lead to 2-1 in the 60th minute.

Segura's goal brought the Sunbirds to life, elevating the emotion and intensity of both teams over the final 30 minutes. A total of eight yellow or red cards were issued in the game, and six of them were thrown after FPU pulled within a goal.

The Cougars withstood 10 more Fresno Pacific shots the rest of the way, and Brendan Fix saved the only two shots on goal to preserve the one-goal lead for the victory. Fix finished the game with six saves.

"Our approach doesn't change a whole lot," Blomquist said. "We have a process and style we like to play, and we're going to keep working to get better at it. Every game is important, so we'll prepare for the next one this Saturday and hopefully have a good performance."

Azusa Pacific returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 20, to host Academy of Art at 5:00 p.m.

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