SAN FRANCISCO – The offense came early and often for Academy of Art women's soccer on Thursday, launching 13 shots that produced a pair of goals from junior forward Brooklyn Morera in a 2-0 victory over Holy Names, the first Pacific West Conference win for the Urban Knights this season. 

"The first victory of a season is always special, but after the long, long layoff this one felt especially sweet to our team," said Head Coach Chris King. "They've been patient, and put in the effort and work to play high level soccer in the PacWest. Today all that came together for some very nice team play with every player contributing."

Starting from the kickoff, ART U (1-2-0, 1-2-0 PacWest) controlled the flow of the game and established great time of possession, and that offensive pressure would end up registering 10 shots in just the first half. Five different Urban Knights tallied a shot led by senior midfielder Sydney Cooke's four (two on goal), none were more important than that of Morera's in the 26th minute when she scored on a low shot with her right foot after a nice setup pass from freshman midfielder Zineb Ighirri. Also earning an assist on the play was junior foward Baylie Christensen, who worked the ball up the left side of the field before sending the ball into the middle to Ighirri.

HNU did get a pair of shots of their own in the first frame, with a shot on goal apiece from Kylie Tisdale and Abbi Alexander, leading to ART U senior goalkeeper Lara Pflicke to make a nice pair of saves and earn her first win of the 2020-21 campaign. Her counterpart from Holy Names (0-1-0, 0-1-0 PacWest) goalkeeper Abby Burnell kept the Hawks in the match, making six saves on seven shots on goal to keep the score just at 1-0. 

The insurance goal came in the 71st minute from Morera, who took a pass from sophomore forward Brooklyn Villapadua just on the right edge of the box and then bent it around the HNU keeper for her second goal of the season. Morera would tie Cooke in shots with four, but Morera put three of her shots on target, while redshirt freshman midfielder Morgan Day tallied two shots on goal. Making an appearance in goal in the second half was sophomore goalkeeper Nicole Peoples who finished with two saves in the effort. 

It will be a return to the pitch on Tuesday, Feb. 16 for the Urban Knights when they travel to Fresno, Calif. to take on the Sunbirds.