Box Score

Photo Gallery (images by Rob Garcia)

San Francisco, CA – Splitting its four goals scored across both halves and dictating the pace of the game nearly all 90 minutes, Academy of Art University Men's Soccer dominated Dixie State 4-1 on Monday afternoon at Crocker Amazon Park. Though the Red Storm got on the board first, Mike Anderson and Kristof Urbanyi each responded by netting their first goals of the season in the opening period before William "Willy" Velasco Villa and Jon "Jay" Eldon added some insurance for the Urban Knights in the second half.

"[Today], the passing game was working, we were staying in the attack, combination play was on for us so we were able to make a lot of chances that way and really that's what we're looking to do all the time," head coach Mike Keller said. "It's just a matter of doing it one hundred percent of the time so that was a great showing for the guys today."

In the early going, Academy of Art offered a great scoring opportunity for Patrick Heinemann in the eighth minute, but Dixie's Tyler Walters was there to stop it. On the other side of the pitch, Luca Theis made two amazing saves in the first 18 minutes to keep the visitors off the scoreboard. The 23rd minute, however, was another story because Kris Evans got free near the left post and fed Nadav Elimelech for a goal from six yards out to put DSU up 1-0.

As the clock approached the 28th minute, Coach Keller inserted Anderson into the game and he quickly made an impact. Anderson received a through ball from Velasco Villa at 30 yards out which set up a one-on-one situation that the Tustin, CA native converted by putting the ball under a diving Walters. The 1-1 tie score lasted just four minutes before ART U struck again.

"We've been working on our runs and are trying to not lead the league in offsides any more so it worked out [today]," Anderson said. "We're just taking it game by game and every day is a new day."

This time, Urbanyi worked off a corner kick by Aron Ekberg, dribbled past two Red Storm defenders, and crushed the ball into the back of the net from eight yards straight on. The authoritative goal rose the Knights to 2-1, becoming more reflective of the style of play that Carlos Hernandez was a key in dictating to favor ART U.

"We've been working hard to maintain our rhythm and just keep the ball," Hernandez said. "In practice, we really focus on keeping the ball because whoever has the ball is going to play better and dictate the tempo. As a team, the continuity is big. Everybody gets along and I think that's another step forward. It was a big win for us."

"I thought Carlos Hernandez played a great game, controlling the tempo and playing in the midfield," Coach Keller said. "He had a lot of almost goals and assists for himself and [Dixie State] was a pretty direct and physical team so he did a lot of dirty work in there. Especially when we went behind, he was playing very inspired so that was good to see."

The second half was welcomed by Velasco Villa's clever goal in the 46th minute. Off a throw in by Sylvester Gyan to about seven yards out, the Sacred Heart Cathedral High School product managed to flick the ball over the goalkeeper and into the net. As the Knights held a 3-1 advantage, they continued to push the gas pedal, scoring again in the 57th minute on the Icelandic connection between Eldon and Jonmundur Gretarsson.

Gretarsson found himself pushing to the edge of the box near the endline and, in one continuous motion on the run, crossed to Eldon who finished it from the top of the box to the far post. There were still over 30 minutes left on the clock so despite ART U's 4-1 lead, they continued to possess the ball and make strategic passes.

Dixie State's best chances from that point on came in the 78th minute and 88th minute when Theis made two more great saves on shots by Bobby Schwarzkopf and Alex Lawhun. In the end, the Knights held strong and wrapped up another PacWest victory by a score of 4-1.

For Academy of Art, now 7-4-1 overall and 4-2-1 in PacWest action, the four goals were scored by Anderson, Urbanyi, Velasco Villa, and Eldon while Velasco Villa, Gyan, and Gretarsson each added an assist. Theis picked up his sixth win with a complete game effort that saw him notch five saves. For all the offense, there were several individuals such as Heinemann who served as 'unsung heroes' in the win as well.

"Patrick Heinemann had a good go and almost scored a few times, but he really got into the attack right at the start of the game which gave us confidence," Coach Keller said. "So there were a lot of good things going on there and a lot of contributors even if they didn't hit the stat sheet."

Dixie State dropped to 2-7-3 overall and 1-6-2 in PacWest play despite the goal from Elimelech and the assist from Evans. Defensively, Walters allowed four goals with four saves in 90 minutes of action.

ART U now turns its attention back to Holy Names whom the Knights face this Saturday to start a five-match road swing that will soon take them to Hawaii. Academy of Art meets HNU for a non-conference rematch on Oct. 19 at 3:30 PM in Oakland.