Match #1
ART U Urban Knights (0-0) vs. Cal State Dominguez Hills Toros (0-0)
Thursday, August 25, 2022 at 6 p.m.
Carson, Calif. – Toro Stadium
Live Stats | Live Video

Match #2
ART U Urban Knights (0-0) vs. Claremont-Mudd Scripps Stags (0-0)
Saturday, August 27, 2022 at 1 p.m.
Claremont, Calif. – John Pritzlaff Field
Live Stats

With dynamic talents coming together to from its deepest roster in several years, Academy of Art men's soccer this week opens not only its 2022 season, but the program's 15th campaign to date.

Starting its 18-match schedule one week early on account of it being a NCAA Division II Championship festival year, ART U is set to play eight non-conference contests with all but one coming before 10 Pacific West Conference matchups beginning in late September. After opening on the road at Cal State Dominguez Hills (Aug. 25) and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (Aug. 27), the Knights will host SF State (Sept. 2) then the California tour continues with matches at Cal State East Bay (Sept. 10) and Cal Poly Humboldt (Sept. 12) ahead of two non-conference pairings hosting William Jessup (Sept. 15) and Holy Names (Sept. 21). A trip to Hawaii starts PacWest action with stops at Hawaii Pacific (Sept. 26), Chaminade (Sept. 28), and UH Hilo (Oct. 1) followed by a four-part homestand that features Biola (Oct. 6), Azusa Pacific (Oct. 8), Fresno Pacific (Oct. 11) in non-conference play, and Dominican (Oct. 16). Rounding out the regular season will be roadtrips to HNU (Oct. 23) and FPU (Oct. 27) then home contests versus Point Loma (Nov. 3) and Concordia (Nov. 5).

Making up a roster top heavy with upperclassmen, Academy of Art returns seven seniors and adds one graduate student in 2022. Midfielder Gilli Kristjansson and defender Jose "JJ" Cortez accounted for two of the squad's top four minutes played last season while midfielder/forward Breki Einarsson comes off a campaign in which he ranked second on the team in assists. In between the posts, goalkeeper Davis King looks to build upon the 105 saves he has amassed in 27 appearances (24 starts) for the program since 2019. Also back for their respective final years will be defender Logi Saemundson, midfielder William Mychaltchouk, and forward Fannar Omarsson while forward Nolan Shafik, who joined the program last spring, further expands the offensive attack.

ART U's five-member junior class features midfielder/forward Gilly Miller back following his seven points by way of two goals and three assists in 2021. Midfielders Christian Schaffner, Kendryx Soriano, and Ping Yao combine with forward Alfonso Gonzalez to make it a total of 12 returning upperclassmen. A starter in all 15 matches last year, Schaffner led the team with 1,380 total minutes played.

Among the familiar faces composing the sophomore group is defender Chase Arlak who redshirted last season. He is joined by forward Jossart Jodito and defender Chris Stokes, the latter of whom is a transfer from Flagler College and carries an impressive club soccer background in England.

Though he notched two assists and scored one goal for the Knights in six matches during the COVID-19 shortened season in 2020-21, midfielder Elvis Mensah checks in as a redshirt freshman this season, adding experience which can help guide the seven incoming freshmen. That group includes defenders Oliver Asgeirsson, Teo Benedick, and Mark Figueroa, midfielder Guilherme Gomes, midfielder/forward Aidan Hatch, as well as forwards Ismaël Elmi and Nixon Thompson. Figueroa carries collegiate experience, having played in 18 matches for Los Angeles City College last year where he contributed to a total of eight shutouts.

The pitch awaits as Academy of Art officially begins its 2022 campaign this Thursday.