IRVINE, Calif. — Two outstanding performances in the opening week of 2015 earned well-deserved recognition Monday, as the Pacific West Conference named Academy of Art University men's soccer senior midfielder Kristof Urbanyi as Player of the Week and Kevin Mendez as Freshman of the Week for the week of Aug. 31-Sept. 6.
 
Kristof earned his first career PacWest Player of the Week award after kicking off the 2015 season right where he left off at the end of the 2014 season – as the Urban Knights' leading scorer. Urbanyi totaled five points (2 goals, 1 assist) in two games last week, including an assist on freshman forward Alex Walsh's game-winning overtime goal in the Urban Knights' first win of the year Saturday at Cal State East Bay. Urbanyi's five points on the week moved him into a three-way tie for third-most career points at ART U with 28.

Urbanyi scored two penalty kick goals in the second half of Thursday's match at Stanislaus State, one in the 50th minute to make it 2-1 and one in the 69th minute that made it 3-2. His two penalty goals gave him the Academy of Art program record for penalty kicks made (4). They also moved him into a tie for third in career goals (11). It was Urbanyi's third multi-goal game of his career after scoring two goals in a game twice last season.
 
Mendez made his collegiate debut with two starts last week, playing every minute in goal for ART U. The rookie went 1-1 with 11 saves and a 1.98 Goals Against Average. He earned his first career victory Saturday in overtime at Cal State East Bay, limiting the Pioneers to one goal in 91 minutes, 29 seconds, with seven saves.
 
The Urban Knights play their first home games of the season when they host the Kezar Classic beginning Thursday at Kezar Stadium.