Photo Gallery (images by Austin McKeon)

Senior Day Ceremony Photo Gallery (images by Austin McKeon)

San Francisco, CA -- It was Senior Day on Sunday for the Urban Knights, and the elder statesmen played an integral part in much of the action, but it a few missed chances provided just enough room for the Vulcans of Hawaii-Hilo to earn a 2-1 victory.

The Knights (4-10-2, 2-8-2 PWC) came out playing extremely well, dominating the game in terms of possession and shots, getting off 17 shots and seven on goal, but were unable to find the back of the net. Playing her final game at Boxer Field, senior Megan Bucci had four shots for ART U, her first coming in the second minute that went just wide. Bucci had four shots on the day, two of which were saved by the Hilo keeper Alysia Barone, who had six saves on the day.

Hilo's first goal of the day came in the fifth minute, only seconds after Jessica Bibby had made a save. Lindsey Poulsen had the ball at the top of the box, and crossed it to Kristine Pasek, who snuck it by Bibby for the score. The score stayed that way until halftime, and if you took out the score, the Knights were leading in almost every category. Academy of Art had twice as many shots (8 to 4) and limited the Vulcans to only one corner kick while taking four of their own.

The Vulcans went up 2-0 midway through the second half, as Brianna Lopiccolo put a nasty move on the ART U defender, cutting it inside from the left top of the box and slotting it near side past Bibby to push the lead to two. Erica Wheeler-Dubin, who was playing her last game as an Urban Knight, had a great chance at ten minutes that went wide, and another in the 59th minute that was saved by Barone, before finally getting the Knights on the board in the 76th minute on a floating free kick that skipped over the keeper and into the back of the net. It was Wheeler-Dubin's third goal of the year, and a fitting way to end her career.

Senior Emi Sullivan also had a shot on goal after a rough day, picking herself up off the pitch almost every time she made a play, including one scary moment when she collided with the goalie face-first. Sullivan played 61 games for ART U over her four years, coming in second on the career games list behind fellow senior Jessica Madrid. Madrid appeared in 68 of the 71 games over her four years in an Urban Knight uniform, and her presence in the midfield will be sorely missed.

Olivia Dupon, who was the defensive enforcer for the Urban Knights over her four years with the team, almost got a goal in the opening minutes, and after her goal against Dominican last Friday seemed to hark back to her days as a forward for ART U, playing upfield and getting into the scoring mix often on Sunday. Unfortunately, the fiery Dupon was sent off early from her senior day after being part of a double-red card fracas with just over a minute remaining in the match that resulted in the final minute being played 10 on 10.