Box Score

Photo Gallery (images by Tylar Springer, Austin McKeon, Kier LaCrosse, Rich Luna, Trenton Cayetano, & Bob Toy)

San Francisco, CA -- Academy of Art University let the world know it has arrived in the NCAA on Wednesday night with a dramatic 2-1 victory over San Francisco State. Following a special pre-match celebration of the entire Athletics Department, the Urban Knights enjoyed their "Kickoff Into The NCAA" in front of a crowd of 700 people, the largest in program history, at Kezar Stadium. A goal by junior midfielder Carlos Hernandez on an assist by sophomore defender Brady Fiero in the 6th minute had ART U up early, but an equalizer by the Gators in the 12th minute forced a rigorous battle which culminated in senior forward Grimur Grimsson's game-winner on a cross by freshman midfielder Sebastian Zuniga with 38 seconds left.

“The team has been working hard and we've been a little unlucky, but tonight our plan was to work hard for 90 minutes,” Coach Rosaia said. “It was a team effort from the first guy to the last all the way.”

This victory, the Urban Knights' first of 2012, comes after a determined preseason in which ART U men's soccer meticulously prepared for the first year it would be eligible for NCAA championships. Despite taking two tough losses to start the season, Academy of Art University remained intent on showing the product of their work and the Knights picked a fitting time as this was also their first home match of the year.

“It was a team effort and everybody was working hard,” Grimsson said. “The team has been really working hard for three to four weeks and now it's coming… wins.”

ART U wasted little time in getting on the scoreboard and rallying their crowd behind them. In the 6th minute, Hernandez was slotted a ball from Fiero on the wing to set up a chance from 18 yards out straight away. The opportunity was seized by Hernandez, a junior transfer from Santa Rosa Junior College, who put one into the back post behind SFSU goalkeeper Anthony Rodriguez.

In the 12th minute, however, the Gators would respond with a header goal by Sasha Chalak from six yards inside the box. SF State's Luis Fidel Medina helped craft the shot with a cross from deep in the corner and the teams were now tied 1-1. That score would last through halftime as ART U senior goalkeeper Ian Sutherland made three impressive saves to keep SFSU off the board.

“During halftime, Coach did a great job of keeping us focused because that's hard when you've got 500 plus people watching you,” Zuniga said. “But we stay composed and kept fighting and tried to block out everything else. In the end, we got it for being composed.”

Using frequent chants of “Art who? ART U!” and roars anytime the Urban Knights made a great play offensively or defensively, the crowd worked to keep the home team going. SF State seemed to have chance after chance to take a critical 2-1 advantage, but it was not to be on this night as what materialized in the final minute was truly remarkable.

With 38 seconds on the clock, Zuniga crossed a ball from deep in the corner which Grimsson fittingly flicked over the goalkeeper from six yards out to put ART U in front. The crowd responded with a thunderous cheer and Academy of Art University kept its local rival from any more chances to equalize in the remaining seconds.

Breaking down the final play, Zuniga described an instinctual approach to his setup for the goal.

“I got the ball wide and had an opponent marking me so I just decided to take him on and I knew someone was going to be [in the box],” Zuniga explained. “I just picked my head up and I didn't even see who was there. I just saw a black spot, hit it there, and Grimur had me at the end.”

For Grimsson, it was a special night as the senior became the all-time career points leader for Academy of Art University with his heroic goal. Already the career leader in game-winning goals with this, his seventh, Grimsson has remained ever humble through it all.

“The team fought together and it just worked out in the end,” Grimsson said. “Sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn't so it did [tonight].”

Sutherland's eight saves Wednesday night were one shy of his career-high, but every one was crucial as he and the ART U defense held the line for all 90 minutes.

“It was definitely a good victory for us and a confidence builder to know we're going in the right direction,” Sutherland said. “We're improving every day and it was pretty nerve-wracking in the final minute, but Grimur snuck in for that last goal. I also thought the defense we played particularly in the second half was very solid. You just have to stay focused and communicate as much as you can.”

“Colin Preston worked to put on a huge event tonight so we really wanted to come out and impress our fans,” Coach Rosaia said. “Hopefully they'll keep coming to the games and I think the guys did impress them. Victor Benavides, Kier LaCrosse, and Vimmi Sveinsson all had a big part in tonight's win.”

The historic crowd of 700 included President Stephens, a host of department directors, ART U student-athletes from all teams, and loads of excited Urban Knights fans who had partaken in a New Student Orientation around Kezar Pavilion prior to kickoff. Backed by their energy, the men's soccer team wholeheartedly agreed their support made a huge difference in the match.


“The atmosphere was definitely great tonight,” Sutherland said. “As a senior, this is my last year and that crowd was the largest crowd by far so their support was huge.”

“As a freshman before the game, I didn't know what to do with myself; my heart was racing, but my teammates really helped me and it was a team effort,” Zuniga said. “I just want to thank all the people who came out today.”

San Francisco State finished with the goal from Chalak, Medina's assist, and a total of nine shots on goal in the match. The loss keeps the 0-2 Gators winless thus far in a young 2012 season.

The Urban Knights will play home matches for the remainder of the month of September, beginning with one last contest against a non-conference opponent in Northwest Nazarene this Saturday at City College of San Francisco. Kickoff for that match is set for 12:00 PM.