Box Score

Photo Gallery (images by Lorraine Etchell & Rob Garcia)

San Francisco, CA – Despite senior Grimur Grimsson's 14th career goal, the Academy of Art University men's soccer team was unable to overcome Dominican, one of the hottest teams in the Pacific West Conference, Thursday afternoon at Crocker Amazon Park. A 1-0 Penguins' halftime advantage was equalized by the goal from Grimsson with juniors Aron Ekberg and Andrew Durano combining for the assist in the 70th minute. ART U repeatedly created scoring chances in the second period, but Dominican responded with what would end up being the difference-maker in the 76th minute to earn a 2-1 end result.

“The guys played well today,” head coach Daniel Rosaia said. “We fought hard to the end and just didn't get the result. Hopefully turn the corner soon.”

Dominican started out on the offensive though a nice opportunity arose for the Urban Knights 9th minute when a ball was slotted into the box for sophomore Jonmundur Gretarsson's wheel kick, but offsides was called. Freshman Kristof Urbanyi would force Penguin goalkeeper Erik Anderson's first save of the afternoon in the 15th minute.

The teams traded quality looks, but both Anderson and senior Ian Sutherland continued to post impressive saves against the opposing offenses. Sophomore Thorvaldur "Thobbi" Sveinsson had two great chances late in the first half, but it was Dominican's Pedro Guevara, the PacWest's leading goal scorer, who scored the first in the 40th minute of an assist from Sam Vella. To his credit, Sutherland got a hand on it, but the ricochet went into the left post.

Playing more their pace in the second period, the Urban Knights started off with a close header attempt from Sveinsson off a corner kick from Grimsson in the 46th minute. ART U kept pushing the issue and was eventually rewarded when a free kick by Durano came in the 70th minute. He sent a ball from 30 yards out to Ekberg who quickly redirected it to Grimsson for the tap in on the other side of the goal.

“I liked how we pressed them in the second half,” Coach Rosaia said. “We were definitely playing for the win.”

The score was now even, 1-1, once again and Sveinsson would soon have two more header shots which somehow did not connect. In the 76th minute, the Penguins' Kolby Mitnick received a ball from Nuri Bon-Acosta to the right corner of the box and put it far post for what would end up being the game-winner in the 2-1 final.

Further etched in ART U history, Grimsson maintains his hold on the all-time goals scored lead.  The Knights, who are 2-6-1 overall and 1-3-1 in PacWest action. Durano's assist was his first of the 2012 season while Ekberg now has amassed four in total as a junior with one coming in each of the last three matches. Sutherland logged another 90 minutes in goal, offering four saves on the day.

For Dominican, Guevara finished with a goal, but only the one on frame despite his six total attempts. Mitnick also added a goal and assists went to Vella and Bon-Acosta. Defensively, Anderson had seven saves and one goal allowed for the Penguins who move to 7-1 overall, 3-1 in PacWest.

ART U's seven-match homestand to start PacWest play concludes this Saturday when the Knights host Holy Names at CCSF. Carrying the International Day pride, Saturday is a chance for fans to represent their native countries and collect a “We Are Urban Knights” t-shirt if they wear the “Urban Knights” sweatband they'll receive at volleyball's “Aloha Friday” on Sept. 28. Fan Buses to both events: http://bit.ly/eC8mrO