Box Score ANGWIN, Calif. – The first match of the fall 2021 season provided a tough test for Academy of Art men's soccer, as ART U traded goals with Pacific Union in a non-conference matchup in the first half. Despite being tied 2-2 at the break, PUC would nab the only tally of the second half and escape with a 3-2 victory on their home pitch.

It was junior forward Fannar Omarsson to strike first for the Urban Knights (0-1-0), as he notched the third goal of his career on ART U's first shot of the game, assisted by junior midfielder Breki Einarsson. After each team fired off a handful of shots, the Pioneers (2-1-0) would find the equalizer in the 24th minute when Joel Casillas set up Issay Bravo to draw the match at 1-1. A second PUC goal would come minutes later in the 38th when the pair of Casillas and Bravo connected on another scoring play, netting Bravo his second goal of the match while Casillas picked up his second helper.

Just a minute later, the Knights would earn a penalty kick opportunity after drawing a foul in the box, allowing senior forward Adrian Cekala to step up knot the match with his first goal of the season. The tally was the 15th goal in Cekala's career, tying him for second place in ART U history along with Kristof Urbanyi (2012-15), and was the third consecutive converted penalty kick dating back to the 2020-21 season (last: Feb. 26, 2021 vs HNU). 

Though Academy of Art grabbed the momentum to tie the game, Pacific Union would come out firing in the second half as a pair of corner kicks would ultimately lead to drawn foul in the box for a penalty kick. Daniel Castro would keep his cool at the dot, connecting on the penalty kick goal that would give the Pioneers the late lead. Refusing to go down quietly, the Urban Knights totaled five shots over the last 25 minutes, and although two were put on net and ART U would win the shot battle 18-14 (8-5 shots on goal), none could find their way through as PUC held on for victory. 

Cekala and Omarsson would end the match with five shots apiece for ART U, with Cekala putting three one net to the two for Omarsson. Junior midfielder Gilli Kristjansson would chip in two shots with one on goal, while Einarsson put a shot on net in addition to the third assist of his career. 

Academy of Art will have the chance to rebound when they take the field for their next match on Thursday, Sept. 9 against SF State beginning at noon.