IRVINE, Calif. – Senior forward Adrian Cekala extended his team-lead in goals while sophomore midfielder Gilly Miller scored his first of the season, but it was not enough to lift Academy of Art men's soccer to a victory against Concordia on Saturday, falling in Pacific West Conference action by a 4-2 final. 

Striking for an early goal was the Eagles (5-5-2, 3-1-1 PacWest), as in the fifth minute Alex Perez was able to dance into the box off the right wing and fire a shot that would find the left side of the net. Just after the dust had settled, CUI added an insurance marker from Vincente Flores in the 16th minute when he hit a sliding chip shot off of a through ball from Elijah Amadin. Not long later in the 22nd minute, Amadin would collect his second assist when he intercepted a clearance ball from the Urban Knights (0-10-1, 0-6-0 PacWest) and played it to Luke Ryan, who pulled off a fake shot in the box before scoring to the left side of the net. 

Heading into the final minute of the first half, ART U was able to get on the scoreboard after setting up some quick offense from a free kick on the right wing. Sophomore midfielder Christian Schaffner played the ball in on a short kick to Miller, who dribbled to the very corner of the box and unleashed a curling shot for his second goal as an Urban Knight, cutting the deficit to 3-1. 

The second half wouldn't have as much scoring, both teams would add to their totals, starting in the 51st with Ryan grabbing his second of the match for the Eagles. Amadin collected his third assist of the match when he played a centering pass for Ryan, who finished to the left of the goalkeeper.

While it would take a while for the Urban Knights' response, it would come from the boot of Cekala in the 89th minute after he was able to convert a penalty kick after Miller was taken down in the box while on the doorstep of the goal. It is the third penalty kick conversion for Cekala this season, giving him five in a row dating back to the spring season, tying him for the most penalty kick goals in ART U program history (six total attempts, now the most in program history). 

Ending with five of the seven shots for the Urban Knights was Cekala, putting one of his attempts on goal, while Miller would find net on his only attempt. Also taking a shot was junior midfielder Breki Einarsson, while senior goalkeeper Davis King totaled four saves. 

A return to the pitch will come soon for the Urban Knights, as they will get the chance to put this match behind them when they face Azusa Pacific on Monday at 7:30 p.m.