Box Score

Photo Gallery (images by Rob Garcia & Trenton Cayetano)

San Francisco, CA -- A mere 14 minutes into Saturday's match, the Urban Knights found themselves up 1-0 on a Grand Canyon team ranked #10 in the country. Though the Antelopes would rally back with a pair of goals in each period, Academy of Art University showed it could hang with one of the top teams in the West Region, eventually sustaining a 4-1 defeat at City College of San Francisco. Junior Patrick Heinemann netted ART U's lone goal off an assist from junior Aron Ekberg.

It was a strong start for the Knights Saturday as they possessed the soccer ball for much of the first 15 minutes. Ekberg had a shot attempt in the 5th minute which GCU goalkeeper Joshua Zehring managed to deflect, but ART U relentlessly pushed the issue offensively. The push paid off in the 14th minute when Ekberg slotted a ball right through the Antelopes' defense, hitting Heinemann who put it in from 14 yards out to the far post.

Grand Canyon responded by making its own offensive push with five shots over the next 15 minutes, the final of which tied the match 1-1. Saeed Robinson, Pacific West Conference Preseason Player of the Year, accepted a pass similar to that of Ekberg to set up the score. In this case, Yared Solscheid added the assist and soon GCU was repeatedly attacking.

Senior goalkeeper Ian Sutherland made numerous dynamic saves, some with his hands and others with his feet, but while he stopped many potential goals, the 'Lopes managed to score once more before the first half was complete. In the 36th minute, Alberto Sanchez Garcia finished off a series of shots deep in the box, scoring off a quick pass by Brandon Hansen amidst the frantic chances.

Early in the second half, ART U went right after its opponent who now held a 2-1 advantage. Junior Sylvester Gyan headed a ball off a corner kick by Ekberg, but it was blocked and Grand Canyon proceeded to go back on the offensive for much of the next 10 minutes. At 60:30 on the clock, Hansen scored a goal of his own from the left side after a pass from Sanchez Garcia.

Just over five minutes later, the same two Antelopes connected for GCU's fourth goal which came on a cross from the left side by Sanchez Garcia and found Hansen just in front of the net. Never ones to back down, the Urban Knights had opportunities to make a comeback, but Grand Canyon held on for the 4-1 victory.

ART U, led by Heinemann's second goal of the year and the eighth of his career (now 3rd in Knights history), moves to 2-5-1 overall and 1-2-1 in PacWest action. Ekberg added his third assist of the season and his second in Academy of Art University's past two matches. Sutherland finished with five saves in total after playing the full 90 minutes in goal.

On GCU's side, Hansen led the way with five points by way of two goals and one assist. Sanchez Garcia was not far behind his teammate, adding four points on a goal and two assists. Finally, Robinson scored his fifth goal of the year and Zehring added one save with one goal allowed.

The Urban Knights will return to action next week when they play the final two matches of this seven-part homestand. On Thursday, Sept. 27, ART U matches up with Dominican at Crocker Amazon then Holy Names will be in town on Saturday, Sept. 29 back at CCSF.