SAN FRANCISCO – As the dawn of the 2021 season draws near, Academy of Art men's soccer has announced its four-member fall 2021 recruiting class, comprised of four student-athletes playing four different positions. Joining the Urban Knights for the year's kickoff is goalkeeper Omer Tal (Nesher, Israel/Nesher High School), defender Jose "JJ" Cortez (Madera, Calif./Clovis Community College), midfielder Christian Schaffner (Hillsborough, Calif./Ithaca College), and forward Alfonso Gonzalez (Ontario, Calif./La Sierra University).

Tal has the distinction of being the only goalkeeper and the only true freshman of the recruiting class, as the Nesher, Israel native was team captain for his soccer team while at Nesher High School. Outside of high school, he has appeared for the affiliate youth clubs of teams such as Macbi Haifa, Hapoel Tel Aviv, and Irony Tiberias. While with Maccabi Haifa U17, Tal was a part of championship-winning teams in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016, and also winning the Israel Youth League Cup in 2016. Listed as his favorite sports moment is the game-winning goal scored by Andrés Iniesta for the Spanish national team in the 2010 World Cup Final. While at ART U, Tal will join the School of Advertising.
 
One of three incoming transfers, Cortez comes to Academy of Art after spending the previous two seasons at Clovis Community College where he played a total of 30 games along the back line. During his time with the Rush, he helped contribute to five shutouts as a defender and was twice selected to the All-State Team. Prior to college, Cortez graduated from Madera High School where he played varsity soccer all four seasons, being named team captain and All-League First Team for three seasons. Listing his life heroes as his parents and his favorite professional sports team as Chelsea F.C., Cortez will join the School of Architecture at ART U. 

Roaming the midfield, Schaffner carries a year of experience after playing his freshman campaign at Ithaca College. In four matches as a freshman, opponents did not score a goal while Schaffner was on the field, as Ithaca outscored the competition 16-0. Against Morrisville State on Sept. 4, 2019, the freshman scored a goal on what would be his only shot of the season while being in the match for just five minutes, his only points of the season. Prior to college, the Bay Area native graduated from Junipero Serra High School in 2018 where he played soccer. Schaffner has also appeared with the Bay Cities Football Club (2021), Alpine Strikers (2017-18), and Hernan Cortez C.F. (2016-17, 2018-19). Upon his arrival to ART U, Schaffner will join the School of Communications & Media Technologies.
 
The lone forward of the recruiting class, Gonzalez brings a scoring presence to the Urban Knights, having spent his freshman collegiate season with the La Sierra University Golden Eagles of the NAIA where he appeared in 15 matches. Starting in seven of those contests, Gonzalez would end the year with six goals for 12 points, both of which were second most on the Golden Eagles. By year's end, Gonzalez was named the La Sierra 2016-17 Best Newcomer of the Year. Additionally, sophomore has played for the BISC soccer club in Corona, Calif., the 2016 Cal South Premier champions. Listing his life hero as Sergio Agüero and his favorite professional sports team as Manchester City, Gonzalez will enroll in the School of Architecture upon his arrival to Academy of Art.