SAN FRANCISCO – Academy of Art University men's soccer looks to unite its diverse talents and build on a strong spring when its 2019 campaign opens this Friday. Stepping into the year with head coach Matt Martin set to begin his first full year at the program's helm, ART U remains focused on a daily progression toward success.

Close games, resilience, and fortitude were trademarks of the 2018 Academy of Art men's soccer team that showed flashes of brilliant play and near victories that boded well for the future of the program under Martin. For a more in-depth look at ART U's 2018 campaign, click here!

Beginning by hosting Missouri - St. Louis this Friday, Sept. 6 (Live Stats & Video), the Urban Knights will navigate a 17-match schedule in 2019, playing nine on their home fields, 11 PacWest opponents, and six non-conference matches from Sept. 6 to Nov. 14. For a complete breakdown of Academy of Art's 2019 schedule, click here!

Combining for seven previous seasons in the ART U red and black, redshirt senior midfielder Isiah Quiros with senior midfielder/forward Andrew Deans and senior forward Zak Kiser will provide leadership and instill chemistry in 2019. That trio is complemented by six juniors including goalkeeper Kris Jensson, defender Connor Lacey, forward Adrian Cekala, midfielder Jaret Gil, midfielder Jon Peregrina, and defender/midfielder Mykal Mason. Defensively, Jensson handled the lion's share of the goalkeeping duties in 2018, ranking third in the Pacific West Conference in saves per game while Cekala returns as the team's top offensive threat after leading the team in goals last season.

The largest class on the team, the sophomores feature five returners, defender Logi Saemundsson, midfielder Gilli Kristjansson, forward Fannar Omarsson, defender/midfielder Edvard Edvarsson, and goalkeeper Davis King, and two newcomers, defender Armando Rivera plus midfielder/forward Breki Einarsson. Both coming from teams with recent postseason success, Rivera joins ART U after winning a conference title with College of the Desert while Einarsson became an Urban Knight this past spring following his part in Cal State Los Angeles' 2018 California Collegiate Athletics Association Tournament victory.

Also infusing the program with new talent is a freshman class that includes midfielder/defender Chase Arlak, defender Kendryx Soriano, forward Sam Copeland, midfielder Christian Cano, midfielder William Mychaltchouk, and defender/midfielder Duncan Graham. As two of the most talented student-athletes from their respective areas, Arlak was named Southwest Region Player of the Year after scoring 44 points on 18 goals and eight assists as a senior at Westview High School in Arizona while Copeland came out of New West Charter High School as both an All-City honoree and Offensive Player of the Year in 2019.

With opening kickoff less than three days away, the 2019 Academy of Art men's soccer season awaits.