Published Monday, November 21, 2005 at 12:00 AM

Budnyy Nets Two As Azusa Pacific Advances to National Semifinals

by Alison Smalling, Embry-Riddle Assistant Sports Information Director

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. ; Andriy Budnyy scored both goals for No. 5 Azusa Pacific as the Cougars captured a 2-1 overtime win against No. 4 Auburn-Montgomery in quarterfinal action on Saturday at the 47th Annual NAIA Men;s Soccer National Championship hosted by Embry-Riddle University.

Elvar Gudjonsson;s long ball from deep in the Senators; half was misplayed by the Azusa Pacific defenders, allowing Hjortur Hjartarsson to run on to it. Hjartarsson won the 1-v-1 battle with APU goalkeeper James Crawford and slotted the go ahead goal in the 63rd minute.

The Cougars netted the equalizer on a set piece with a 15:09 left on the clock in the second half. Matt Kristoff swung in a free kick from 25 yards out and Budnyy rose to meet it, heading home his second goal of the tournament.

Both teams had opportunities to take a lead, but neither team was able to capitalize, sending the game into overtime, the second overtime contest for Azusa Pacific in as many days.

As was the case in Friday;s second-round match against Graceland, Budnyy was the hero for Azusa Pacific. This time Budnyy;s game-winner, his sixth of the year, came five seconds earlier than his last, taking advantage of an AUM defensive miscue to send the Cougars into Monday;s semifinal.;APU will face the winner of Saturday;s quarterfinal between Hastings and Rio Grande at 6 p.m. on Monday.

The loss brings AUM's season to a close and the Senators finish with a 23-2 record.

NAIA WOMEN'S SOCCER NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS