SAN FRANCISCO - Academy of Art University men's soccer has officially announced their 2018 schedule.
 
The Urban Knights' 2018 campaign begins August 30 on the road against SF State. The Gators posted an impressive, 12-5-2 record in 2017, and are projected to be one of the top teams in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) again this year. The Urban Knights next head down the coast to take on CSU Monterey Bay, another strong CCAA opponent, on September 1 in Seaside.
 
The travel continues as ART U closes out the early non-conference portion of the schedule with matches against Cal State East Bay on Sept. 6, and Humboldt State on the 9th.
 
PacWest play begins with the Urban Knights still on the road, first to the San Joaquin Valley to take on Fresno Pacific on Sept. 17, and then to San Rafael to face Dominican (the 22nd), a team that ART U bested two goals to one in San Francisco in 2017.

The bags will finally be unpacked as the Urban Knights' conference home opener is on September 27 when they begin a four-match homestand. Their first two contests are against Biola on Sept. 27 and Point Loma on the 29th. The comforts of home will no doubt be welcomed against these strong PacWest opponents; Biola had an impressive maiden season in the conference in 2017, posting a 7-5-1 record in the PacWest. The Eagles came in sixth place as a result. The Sea Lions of Point Loma were dominant in 2017 as well, going undefeated in conference play with an 11-0-2 record and a second-place finish.
 
The Urban Knights will continue their home stretch against the likes of UH Hilo on Oct. 4, and Fresno Pacific on Oct. 6. Afterwards, they begin another road trip starting with Notre Dame de Namur Oct. 11.
 
ART U gets a brief break from conference play when they host UC Santa Cruz on Oct. 14 and this will be just the third time that the two programs have gone head-to-head.
Conference play resumes and the home stand concludes on the 16th with Holy Names, an opponent against whom ART U has earned a 3-2-1 all-time record, including wins in their last two meetings.
 
The players' headphones and earbuds might be blasting Willie Nelson's "On the Road Again" as the team heads to Southern California to face the always-strong Azusa Pacific Cougars on Oct 20. and the Concordia Eagles who finished fourth in the PacWest in 2017.
 
The 2018 season comes to a close with a three-game homestand against conference opponents. The last stand opens with Hawaii Pacific on Oct. 27, followed by Chaminade on October 29. On Nov. 3, the 2018 campaign concludes with the celebration of Senior Day and a rematch with Notre Dame de Namur.