Academy of Art University Athletics

BELMONT, Calif. -- The recent uptick in Urban Knights offensive prowess continued on Wednesday beginning with freshman midfielder Fannar Omarsson's first collegiate goal and a first career brace from junior midfielder Adrian Cekala to force a 3-3 tie against Notre Dame de Namur.

The first half was an evenly fought affair, with both teams taking six shots, although ART U edged out NDNU in shots on goal three to one. Cekala padded his team high lead in shots with three, one on goal, and provided foreshadowing of things to come.

The Argonaut's struck quickly in the second half when in the 50th minute Naia Graham scored his fifth goal of the season on a ball from Christian Cardenas to put the Urban Knights down 1-0. Graham pushed the contest further out of reach in the 61st when he scored his second goal of the match. Just 13 seconds later Omarsson capitalized on a turnover and tapped in his first career goal on an empty net to put the Urban Knights right back in the game 2-1 and set the come-back in motion. 

NDNU added their third and final goal of the second half in the 64th minute from Tony Andoyan to top off a chaotic stretch of three goals in under four minutes.

After a brief break in scoring, Cekala was back at it in the 75th receiving a ball from junior midfielder Andrew Deans at the top of the box and blasting it to the far post past the diving keeper. At this point the Knights were within striking distance down just 3-2. Less than ten minutes later in the 83rd Cekala took a free kick from 22 yards out that he placed perfectly in the top right corner to earn his first career brace and equalize the match 3-3.

The game extended to overtime in an attempt to find a winner, but after two periods neither team could find the net and the match ended in a 3-3 tie.  

This is the second time in as many games the Academy of Art men's soccer team put three goals into their opponents net. After landing the brace Cekala is up to four goals and eight points, both of which lead the team.

With the tie ART U moves to 1-8-2 overall and 0-4-1 in conference. The Urban Knights will continue their non-conference stretch and take on UC Santa Cruz Sunday, Oct. 14 11 a.m. at CCSF Soccer Field.