San Francisco, CA — A number of new players performed well Thursday for the Academy of Art University men's soccer team, but the contrast in capitalized chances between the two teams on the pitch helped lead visiting BYU-Hawaii to a 3-0 Pacific West Conference win at Crocker Amazon Park.
 
The Seasiders (6-5-2, 6-1-1 PacWest) took advantage of a first half own goal by the Urban Knights (4-9, 2-5 PacWest) then scored twice in the second half on crossing plays to come away with the shutout win. It was BYUH goalkeeper Chris Pineda's third shutout of the year and moved the Seasiders to 6-1-1 in their last eight games.
 
ART U freshmen Dominic Payerchin, Jón Jóhannesson, Alex Walsh, Dylan Ingle and Alexander Tombach – who started Thursday's match – were strong on the attack for the Urban Knights, especially in the second half when ART U was trailing. Jóhannesson nearly had a goal in the 76th minute when his header just missed the inside of the right post. Freshman starting defender Sam McKay also put a shot on goal in the second half for the Knights.
 
Two of BYU-Hawaii's three goals came within the first five minutes of each half. The Seasiders benefited from an own goal by ART U 4 minutes, 51 seconds into the game. Freshman goalkeeper Alejandro Escobedo, who made six saves in the game, came out and made a deflection stop on a shot from BYUH's Jace Green. As the deflection rolled across the goalkeeper box an Academy of Art defender accidentally tapped it into the open net, making it 1-0.
 
The Seasiders struck early again in the second half when Zak Epplette made a run down the right side and passed it into the box to a charging Colby Bauer, who tapped it in low and right to make it 2-0 in the 49th minute. It would become 3-0 on a nearly identical play when Chad Nahoolewa scored off a pass from Matt Roberts, who made a run past a sliding ART U defender before passing it off.
 
Academy of Art next faces Chaminade at noon on Saturday at CCSF.