SEASIDE, Calif. -- Academy of Art men's soccer took on Cal State Monterey Bay in their first match of their 2024 campaign, and despite having a new-look to their starting roster with seven new members, the Urban Knights dropped the match to the Otters 3-1.

In the first half, CSUMB came out strong as they struck the first 12 shots of the match, with redshirt freshman goalkeeper Florian Grollmann recording five saves for the Knights in that timeframe. One did get through to the back of the net, as Ronaldo Guardarrama put the Otters up 1-0 in the eighth minute off a Mason Ward assist. Freshman midfielder Andrea Mercanti took the first shot for the Knights in the match and the season, with his 42nd minute strike at goal that drifted off target.

Senior defender Chris Stokes and freshman midfielder Keita Goto kicked off the second half for the Knights with their first two scoring attempts, but the Otters would respond with goals from both Cameron Belandre and Alexis Sanchez in the 65th and 68th minute to put Cal State Monterey Bay up 3-0.

After a redshirt freshman forward Audie Garza shot attempt, redshirt junior forward Elvis Mensah followed it up to put the Knights on the scoreboard as he found the net in the 82nd minute from a Stokes assist after a big throw-in from the sideline by senior defender Elijah Cofer. Eight more minutes would pass before the match officially concluded at 3-1 in CSUMB's favor.

Academy of Art drops to 0-1 overall while the Otters improve to 1-0. The Urban Knights will come home for their next match, as the squad will host MSU Denver at SF Glens at Treasure Island Field on Sept. 14 with a 10 a.m. kickoff.