Box Score

Chico, CA -- The Academy of Art University men's soccer team earned its first victory of the season by defeating Cal State Monterey Bay 3-2 on Saturday night as part of Chico State's Wilcat Invitational. Junior forward Frankie Diaz scored the Knights' first goal in the 11th minute while AAU sealed its victory off an unassisted goal by junior midfielder Kyle Mannschreck with 43:57 on the clock. Sophomore midfielder Richard Luna assisted two of the three goals.

Academy of Art (1-1) got on the board early scoring in the 11th minute when Diaz drove home Luna's blast from 30 yards that ricocheted off the crossbar.
 
CSU Monterey Bay evened the match at 1-1 with a goal in the 17th minute. But just 10 minutes later Academy of Art retook the lead for good on a Mario Pineda (Madera, CA) chip over the CSU Monterey Bay keeper. Luna looped a pass to Pineda at the corner of the box, and when the Otters keeper came out to challenge the play, Pineda gained just enough time to chip a shot over his head and into the empty net.
 
The Urban Knights made it 3-1 in the 44th minute when Mannschreck beat a pair of defenders and blasted a shot off of the onrushing Otters keeper. He deflected it, but right back to the foot of Mannschreck, who needed only to push it into the back of the net.
  
The Otters, playing their season opener, outshot Academy of Art 13-4 in the second half, but a late in the game goal by Andrew Breault in the 88th minute was all they could muster after going to the half down 3-1. 

Overall the Urban Knights were outshot 9-18, though each team notched seven shots on goal. AAU keeper, Ian Sutherland (Honolulu, HI), made five saves in his first start of the season.

Wrapping up the Wildcat Invitational, three Academy of Art University athletes were selected for the All-Tournament Team. Freshman Daniel Higa (Honolulu, HI), sophomore Richard Martin (Biggin Hill, England), and Luna were all given the honors.
 
The Urban Knights next challenge will come on Sept 1 when they take on the Pacific Union College Penguins. Game time is set for 4:30 PM in Angwin, CA.