Match #2
ART U Urban Knights (0-1-0) vs. SF State Gators (1-1-0)
Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021 at Noon
San Francisco – Cox Stadium
Live Stats | Live Video
Match #3
ART U Urban Knights (0-1-0) vs. Stanislaus State Warriors (0-1-1)
Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021 at 7 p.m.
Turlock, Calif. – Warrior Stadium
Live Stats | Live Video
EARLY-SEASON BATTLES
Having kicked off the season with a back-and-forth affair against Pacific Union, returning to the road is Academy of Art men's soccer as the Knights will face a pair of California Collegiate Athletics Association opponents in cross-town foe SF State on Thursday before heading south to battle with Stanislaus State on Sunday evening.
KICKOFF
It will be a matinee match on Thursday when the Knights take on the Gators at noon, followed by a clash under the lights beginning at 7 p.m. against the Warriors on Sunday. Remember to follow @ARTU_Knights via the athletics app (
Apple App Store,
Google Play Store) and on
Twitter & Instagram, as well as "Like" the
Urban Knights on Facebook for score updates, videos, and recaps.
KNIGHT WATCH
The season-opening match got off to a hot start last Sunday, with junior forward
Fannar Omarsson tallying the third goal of his career in the seventh minute to put Knights ahead early. Though the lead would not hold, senior forward
Adrian Cekala would find an equalizer as he converted his third consecutive penalty kick goal (dating back to last season; last:
Feb. 26, 2021 vs HNU). It marked the 15th goal in Cekala's career, tying him for second place in ART U history along with Kristof Urbanyi (2012-15). By the end of the match, the two forwards would take a match-high five shots apiece, with three on goal from Cekala to the two on net from Omarsson.
SEE YA LATER, GATOR
SF State enters the matchup having gone 1-1 in its opening two matches, falling to Northwest Nazarene 3-1 before rebounding with a shutout win over Westminster, 3-0. Thursday will mark the first home match of the season for the Gators, and they will face another Pacific West Conference opponent in Dominican following the meeting with ART U. All four goals scored on the season have been scored by different players, but Gustavo Ferrari leads the team in points with three by also chipping in an assist. As a squad, SF State has totaled 15 shots, with just six of them making it on target. Of the two goalkeepers who have seen action in the early season, Jo Krumsvik picked up the shutout win after making just two saves on 15 shots faced. This marks just the sixth meeting between the Knights and the Gators, with SF State winning the last three matchups to take the lead in the all-time series, 3-2.
WARRIORS, COME OUT AND PLAY
Also searching for their first win of the season is Stanislaus State, as the Warriors began their campaign with a scoreless draw against Cal State Monterey Bay, and followed it up by allowing a lead to collapse against PacWest member Holy Names en route to a 5-4 loss in regulation. Prior to the clash with the Knights, Stanislaus State will face off against the Penguins of Dominican on Thursday afternoon, then will meet the fourth member of the PacWest NorCal pod in Fresno Pacific the following week. The Warriors lead the Knights in the all-time series, 2-1-2.
KNIGHTS TRADE GOALS EARLY BUT FALL TO PIONEERS IN OPENER
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.
LOOKING AHEAD
Academy of Art can look forward to a home match for the first time this season, as the fall 2021 home opener comes against Cal State Monterey Bay at Paul Goode Field on Sept. 16 before hitting the road once more against Chico State on Sept. 19.
