SAN FRANCISCO – Senior forward Anissa Wilson captured her second consecutive brace while junior midfielder Sydney Cooke scored her first goal of the season to lead Academy of Art to a convincing 3-1 victory over Saint Martin's, Saturday afternoon at CCSF Soccer Field.

Freshman forward Brooklyn Villapudua assisted two of the goals and senior defender Mikayla Lopez earned her first points of the year by assisting ART U's second goal of the match. 

After almost an entire 45 minutes of strong defense from both sides, it looked as if the teams would enter halftime in a scoreless tie, but Wilson had other ideas. The senior forward found the back of the net with only 11 seconds remaining in the first half after beating the Saint's goalkeeper by a split second to an impeccable through ball in the middle of the box sent by Villapudua. It was the first collegiate points in Villapudua's career, but would not be the last by the end of the match. 

The Urban Knights extended their lead to 2-0 in the 57th minute on Cooke's first goal of 2019. Lopez dribbled to the corner and lobbed a cross just inside the box. Cooke handled it magnificently and volleyed it in mid-air and just beyond the reach of the keeper to the back left corner of the net. 

Exactly 10 minutes later ART U put the nail in the coffin with another Villapudua to Wilson goal. Putting her passing prowess on display once again, Villapudua  beat a defender to the corner and made an excellent cross. Wilson flew by a defender and got a foot on it to redirect the ball to the bottom right corner of the net for her fourth goal just two matches into the season. 

Academy of Art came within 10 minutes of their second consecutive shutout thanks to strong defensive efforts from junior midfielder Alyssa Rasmussen, freshman defender Katie Williams, and sophomore defender Britney Flint, but the Saint's took advantage of a corner kick in the 82nd minute to make it a 3-1 match. The Urban Knights held them from there and came away with their second victory of the season.

Academy of Art is now 2-0 to start the season, something no other team in ART U women's soccer program history has ever done. Academy of Art also dominates the top of the PacWest statistical categories. Wilson's eight points and four goals are both most in the conference, as are Villapudua's two assists. 

The Urban Knights will look to keep their streak alive when they face off with cross-town rival SF State Wednesday, Sept. 11 at Cox Stadium.