PacWest Conference Weekly Awards (Feb. 8)

IRVINE, Calif. -- After leading Academy of Art men's soccer to a 2-0 start to the 2020-21 season with three goals (two game-winners, senior forward Adrian Cekala was named Pacific West Conference Northern California Player of the Week. The award is for matches played from Feb. 1-7. 

Stepping in for some timely offense during the Urban Knights' season-opening contest versus Fresno Pacific on Feb. 3, Cekala scored the game-tying goal in the 86th minute on a penalty kick which eventually sent the match into overtime. The Advertising major then received a ball from freshman midfielder Elvis Mensah in the 99th minute and once again found the back of the net for the decisive score in a 4-3 victory.

Three days later on Feb. 6, Cekala helped build on a 1-0 lead over Dominican with another strong goal through the defense in the 70th minute, providing crucial insurance as the Penguins would score some 10 minutes later. ART U went on to defeat Dominican 2-1 en route to its first 2-0 start in program history.

This is the first PacWest Weekly award for Cekala in his career and the first for the Urban Knights in 2020-21.