AZUSA, Calif. – Hawai'i Pacific University's men's soccer team fell on a hat-trick overtime goal by Azusa Pacific's Aleksandar Pumpalovic in the 99th minute as the Cougars won the PacWest Conference contest 3-2 at the Cougar Soccer Complex.
 
The Sharks (4-6-2, 2-5-1) played their six overtime contest in 12 matches this season, as the Cougars (3-8-1, 3-4-1) won their first overtime game in eight contests dating back to 2015.
 
The teams played to a 1-1 draw in the first half.
 
Azusa Pacific opened the scoring on a penalty kick in the 24th minute as Pumpalovic blasted the ball into the net for the 1-0 lead for the Cougars.
 
The Sharks answered the tally in the 40th minute. Following a blocked shot from Lucas Libbra, senior Mario Garcia of Leganes, Spain, came up with a loose ball in a scramble in the box. Garcia sent the ball back to Libbra, a freshman from Alata, France, who fired it in to tie the game at 1-1.
 
HPU got the advantage early in the second half in the 56th minute. The Cougars were called for a foul in the penalty box, and Sharks senior Josch Cuerten of Cologne, Germany, beat the keeper on the penalty shot with his ninth goal of the year for a 2-1 lead.
 
However, the Sharks lead wouldn't last long. HPU was whistled for a penalty in the 62nd minute, and Pumpalovic returned the favor with the PK goal, his fourth of the year and second of the game.
 
Both teams had opportunities following the PK goals, but neither were able to score in the chippy affair that produced 38 total fouls and five yellow cards.
 
In the overtime, HPU did not get a shot off, while the Cougars threw their team forward. HPU goalkeeper Daniel Arnoll knocked down three crosses and saved back-to-back shots from APU's Arturo Astorga before the last shot of the night.
 
The Cougars again got the ball deep in the 99th minute when Kaleb Armbrust dropped a pass from the right side that Pumplovic found right in front of the goal. The APU junior redirected the ball into the net from six-yards out for his hat-trick and the Cougar win.
 
Both Hawai'i Pacific and Azusa Pacific recorded 14 shots in the contest.
 
Arnoll, the senior from Verrieres-le-Buisson, France, made five saves and allowed the three goals (two off of penalty kicks). APU goalkeeper Brendan Fix posted three saves and the two goals allowed (one penalty kick).
 
The Sharks, who have played overtime in the last two game straight, don't have much time to linger over the loss as they close their three-game California road trip on Monday in San Diego at Point Loma. The match is scheduled to start at 12:30 p.m. HST (3:30 p.m. PDT) at the PLNU Soccer Field.