HAYWARD, Calif. – Academy of Art women's soccer put together what could have been its best half of the season in the second part of Sunday's battle with Holy Names, scoring a pair of goals on eight shots in the frame. However, it was not enough to keep up with four first-half goals as HNU claimed a 6-2 Pacific West Conference victory to close out the final ART U leg of the Bay Area Clásico Cup. 

From the opening kick, the offense from the Hawks (7-8-0, 1-6-0 PacWest) came out aggressive, keeping pressure in the Urban Knights' (1-14-0, 0-7-0 PacWest) defensive zone which ultimately led to 11 shots. Midway through the half was when Holy Names struck for its first goal, as Taleah Mendoza broke the scoreless tie in the 27th minute on a strike from the right wing. From there the HNU offense continued scoring in the 37th, 40th, and 45th minutes, with all four markers in the frame coming from the boots of different Hawks.

Though the second half appeared to start the same as the first with Holy Names adding another goal out of the break, as Mendoza became the only Hawk to score multiple goals on the day with a tally in the 50th minute. However, ART U showed no quit and generated eight shots in the final 45 minutes, the most they have taken in a single half this season. 

The pressure would eventually result in a tally for senior defender Avica Robings, as her first goal of the season (fifth of her career) came in unassisted fashion when she buried her shot attempt from near the edge of the box in the 75th minute.A response from Holy Names came towards the end of the match in the 84th minute, but Academy of Art returned the favor in the 87th when senior defender Britney Flint converted a free kick that was awarded after the Knights drew a penalty just outside the top of the 18' box. For Flint, not only was it her first marker of the season, but it was the first goal of her ART U career. 

Both Flint (four) and Robings (three) led ART U in shot chances, as the Urban Knights finished the match with double-digit shots for just the second time this season (10 total). Also taking attempts at the net were redshirt sophomore forward Hannah Moore, senior midfielder Reyna Valencia and freshman midfielder Natalia Cruz, but only Moore put her look on goal. Making two saves on the day was freshman goalkeeper Alicia Calderon. 

Next up for Academy of Art will be a battle with the Sunbirds of Fresno Pacific on Thursday, with the match taking place under the lights beginning at 5 p.m.