AZUSA, California – With the sun setting and time winding down on the game clock, Brian Trujillo put through the game-winning goal in the 83rd minute to help power Hawai'i Hilo Men's Soccer past Azusa Pacific, 2-1, Monday afternoon in Pacific West Conference action at the Cougar Soccer Complex.

The Palmdale native assisted on the Vulcans' earlier equalizing goal in the 58th minute and looked to set up the game-winner to Aidan Santos from 35 yards out, but his shot was blocked inside the box and sent right back to Trujillo to blast through from the top of the arc for the score.

"It was a sentimental moment to see the ball go in the back of the net. When I saw my whole family in the stands ... once I saw them I knew I had to go celebrate with them and create a special moment," Trujillo told Guava Press Media following the match. "I think it was a statement win to show we're a team that doesn't give up. We're a team that can come out of a hole that we dug ourselves in."

In the 10th minute, APU's Kaleb Abara found Andrew Gomez racing down the left side as he circled back and managed to slot a shot through the top-right corner for the score.

Coming out of the half, the Vulcans applied the pressure to set themselves up to tie the game. Felix Drizinsky sent a cross in from the top right corner of the box as Trujillo controlled it on the far side and bounced it back in for Gen Takahashi to head in for the goal.

OTHER NOTABLES

• Second-year head coach Diego Marroquin notched Vulcans win No. 18 to move to No. 3 all-time in program history, surpassing Lance Thompson (13-15). Overall, it's career win No. 30 for the former Holy Names head coach.
• Hawai'i Hilo remained within contention of qualifying for the inaugural PacWest Conference Championships postseason tournament, bringing its points total to nine for a three-way tie for fifth place. PacWest newcomers Menlo and Vanguard sit ahead in the standings but will not be eligible for postseason play as they are in Year 2 of a three-year NAIA-NCAA transition period.
• Paul Waschkau made his fourth start of the season in goal, recording six saves for his third win.
• Takahashi made his first start of the season and netted his first score of the year.
• Trujillo now leads the team with 10 total points contributing on the offensive side of the ball for the fifth time this season.

UP NEXT

Hawai'i Hilo moved to 3-4 in the PacWest (8-5 overall) as Azusa Pacific moved to a 2-3-1 conference record (3-7-1 overall).

The Vulcans continue through Southern California taking on Biola (Oct. 24) and Westmont (Oct. 26). Hawai'i Hilo will return for a two-game home stand to close the regular season, hosting Fresno Pacific (Nov. 2) and Chaminade (Nov. 9).

The top four teams in the regular season standings will qualify for the inaugural PacWest Conference Championships set for Nov. 14-16 at the Orange County Great Park in Irvine, California. Newcomers Menlo, Vanguard and Jessup are in Year 2 of a three-year NAIA-NCAA transition period and are thus ineligible for postseason play.