Box Score

Honolulu, HI -- Now winners of four consecutive matches, the Academy of Art University men's soccer team pulled off another dramatic victory in overtime, topping Chaminade 2-1 on Sunday afternoon. On a wet and windy day at St. Louis Field, freshman forward Grimur Grimsson again took center stage and scored the game-winner for the second time this season. ART U completes its five-match Hawaii roadtrip with an impressive 4-1 record and a host of exciting moments to look back on.

"This is a talented team, they were just lacking the confidence before," Head Coach Daniel Rosaia said. "But now we're jumping on teams early and that helps our confidence a lot. It was just a really good team effort over here in Hawaii and Assistant Coach [Kier] LaCrosse helped out tremendously."

A common thread in each of their four victories on this extended trip to the islands, the Knights again scored within the first 30 minutes of the match. Junior forward Andrew "Boomer" Cruz and senior defender Vilmundur Sveinsson took the game's first shots in the 8th minute, but it was not until the 27th minute when Academy of Art University would strike first.

Set up by the pass from junior midfielder Richard Luna, Cruz came through with his seventh goal of the season. Luna received the ball out wide and chipped it into the box where Cruz calmly let it fall from his chest before ripping a shot that went into the top left corner of the goal.

The Urban Knights dominated the first half, putting up nine total shots (six on goal) while the ART U defense and sophomore goalkeeper Ian Sutherland held Chaminade to just one shot.

In the second half, the teams matched up more closely with comparable shots and saves for both sides. As Academy of Art University closed in on the 1-0 shutout, the game became extremely physical. Numerous fouls were called midway through the period, but the Knights continued to stay on the offensive. Freshman forward Patrick Heinemann had one of his two shots on goal in the 78th minute, but the save was again made by Sperry.

With the match nearly complete, a dramatic turn of events ensued in the final moments of regulation. A Chaminade goal kick was cleared away by the Knights, but the strong wind took it into the ART U goal resulting in a score for the Silverswords in the 84th minute. The 1-1 score held up at the end of 90 minutes to send the match into overtime.

The Urban Knights, who had competed in three overtime matches already this season, did not let up in the extra period. No opportunities for a Chaminade score were allowed by Academy of Art University as freshman midfielder Andrew Durano nearly finished the match in the 96th minute with a shot that was saved by the Silverswords. Just minutes later, however, Grimsson found himself in a déjà vu scenario that fans might recall from the ART U match at Menlo earlier this year.

In the 97th minute, Luna offered a perfect cross to Grimsson who strategically headed it over a jumping keeper. The ball hit the crossbar, but then bounced into the goal and sent Academy of Art University into yet another celebration. The result was the third overtime win for ART U this season and the squad has now earned four consecutive victories, beginning with the 1-0 final at BYU-Hawaii on Sept. 27. The team is now 5-6 overall, 4-4 in PacWest play.

"With Grimur, we were resting him and resting him because he'd been injured so this was actually the first game he's played in for a while," Coach Rosaia said. "After we tried him for 10 minutes in the first half, I put him in there late in the game and he came up with a great game-winner off a beautiful assist from Rich Luna."

Another team effort was turned in by the Knights Sunday in the squad's second matchup against Chaminade at St. Louis Field. In addition to Grimsson's game-winning goal, Academy of Art University was paced by six shots (five on frame) from Cruz and his one goal. For the second time in his ART U career, Luna added two assists in the match (the first came against Cal State Monterey Bay on Aug. 29, 2009). Durano, Sveinsson, and junior midfielder Miquel Amezquita each added a shot on goal while Sutherland played all 97 minutes with five saves and one goal allowed.

"After that first loss to Hawaii Pacific, our captains, Daniel Waller and Vimmi, sat down and met with the team," Coach Rosaia said. "They really straightened things out and the team has really been playing well ever since. I feel good because we have a talented team and we're developing as a young program. Our pre-game cheer is: 'Trust. Loyalty. Knights!' So you have to be confident and trust each other out there."

Chaminade, who falls to 1-5 overall and 0-4 in PacWest play, was again led by forward Michael Marrs and his pair of shots. Five Silverswords including Marrs registered shots on goal in the match, but the lone CUH goal came from Academy of Art University so no Chaminade player was credited with a score. Defensively, Sperry played the entire match and finished with 11 saves to go with two goals allowed.
 
When the Urban Knights return from Hawaii, a four-match homestand will be on the horizon for Academy of Art University. ART U begins the next chapter of its season with a game against Dominican at Boxer Stadium. The Knights and Penguins square off Thursday, Oct. 7 at 11:00 AM.