Match #1
ART U Urban Knights (0-0) vs. Cal Poly Pomona Broncos (0-0)
Thursday, August 30, 2012 at 11:00 AM
Pomona, CA – Kellogg Field
Live Stats

Match #2
ART U Urban Knights (0-0) vs. UC San Diego Tritons (0-0)
Saturday, September 1, 2012 at 7:00 PM
San Diego, CA – Triton Soccer Field
Live Stats

KNIGHTS TRAVEL SOUTH FOR FIRST TWO MATCHES OF 2012
The Academy of Art University men's soccer team ushers in a new era this Thursday after the program received full-fledged NCAA status this past July. Driven by youthful energy coupled with the experience of several decorated returning Urban Knights and guided by head coach Daniel Rosaia, the Urban Knights travel to southern California for pairings with Cal Poly Pomona (Thursday) and UC San Diego (Saturday) of the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA).

OPENING KICKOFF
ART U opens its 2012 campaign with a match Thursday, Aug. 30 in Pomona, CA versus Cal Poly Pomona. The teams' first-ever meeting is scheduled for 11:00 AM at Kellogg Field. Two days later, on Saturday, Sept. 1, the Knights face UC San Diego in another in a non-conference affair with a 7:00 PM kickoff at Triton Soccer Field. Live Stats will be available for each match (see links above). Remember to check the @ARTU_Knights Twitter for score updates and recaps.


KNIGHT WATCH
After graduating six student-athletes this past year, Academy of Art University welcomes back a core of returners in 2012 including seniors Ian Sutherland and Grimur Grimsson. Grimsson, a 2011 All-PacWest Team Honorable Mention among forwards, led the squad last season with seven goals including two game-winners and a hat trick in the final match. Sutherland ranked sixth in the Pacific West Conference in shutouts (3) and eighth in total saves (52). There will also be 11 new faces this season, featuring local talent (such as freshmen Sebastian Zuniga and Jesus "Chava" Sanchez) and talent from overseas (Thorvaldur "Thobbi" Sveinsson and Kristof Urbanyi). For a more in-depth overview of the team, check out the 2012 Season Preview!

BRONCOS BEGINNING 2012
In 2011, the Broncos finished with marks of 9-7-2 overall and 8-6-2 in CCAA play. CPP started its campaign with a 6-2 record but ended up three points behind the conference tournament's fourth and final qualifier, Cal State Stanislaus, in the final regular season standings. Thursday's match, which will be the head coaching debut for the Broncos' Erik Garcia, will feature a drastically different CPP look from the one that took the field in the 2011 season opener. A total of 16 seniors exhausted their athletic eligibility last year, including top goal scorer Luis Gonzalez, and 16 newcomers have joined the CPP squad for 2012. Johnny Mercer is one of the top incoming athletes after his 2011 campaign leading Adams State in total goals. Andrew Todd and Kris Minton split goalkeeping duties in 2011, amassing 78 saves and three shutouts in the process, and both will return this season.

WHAT U-C IS UC SAN DIEGO
With a 10-8 overall record last season, UC San Diego ended up third overall in the South Division of the CCAA standings. The Tritons were strong at home (7-3) and were led offensively by Cory Wolfrom's five goals and eight assists in the standings among its fellow GNAC members. Wolfrom, a junior, will return along with Josh Cohen, one of two primary goalkeepers for UCSD who had 30 saves and a 0.87 goals against average. This will be the first meeting between Academy of Art University and UC San Diego. UCSD will face Cal Baptist on Thursday prior to meeting the Knights.

2011 IN REVIEW
In a year highlighted by a 2-1 overtime victory at PacWest rival Notre Dame de Namur and a new single-match scoring record, the fourth year of ART U Men's Soccer was very much about the contributions of six athletes who had helped pioneer the program in its youth. The Urban Knights went 6-11 overall (4-8 in Pacific West Conference play) and would send off its first class of four-year athletes in style with a win in the final match. For a more in-depth look back, check out the 2011 Season in Review!

LOOKING AHEAD
The Urban Knights' return home next week will be a highly anticipated one as they take on San Francisco State under the lights at Kezar Stadium on Wednesday, Sept. 5. Prior to the 7:00 PM kickoff, Academy of Art University will celebrate its entrance into the NCAA with a special ceremony. Find more details below and be sure to RSVP to the Facebook event!