SAN BRUNO, Calif. – Academy of Art University men's soccer battled both a rugged Holy Names team and intense fog out at Skyline College on Sunday en route to a tie. Conditions became wetter and vision across the field challenged as the Bay Area Pacific West Conference opponents each had quality chances on goal through 110 scoreless minutes.
Though the Hawks outshot ART U 13-4 in the first half, both sides had two looks on frame in the first 10 minutes with senior midfielder
Kristof Urbanyi and sophomore midfielder
Alexander Tombach in the mix. Four saves by freshman goalkeeper
Kevin Mendez held the line for a 0-0 score at halftime.
In the second period, two yellow cards on HNU's Ignacio Alvarez within an eight-minute span midway through shifted them momentum toward Academy of Art. Playing down a man, the Hawks did not attempt a shot for the next 25 minutes while the Knights had six attempts prior to the end of regulation.
Each side had a good chance at the win in the first extra period. Junior midfielder
Justin Erhunmwunsee broke free for a shot in the 94th minute only to be stopped before Alfredo Castaneda nearly ended it if not for a spectacular diving save by Mendez in which he snagged the ball out of the air and pulled it back before crossing the goal line.
It was a free-for-all in the second extra period as the fog continued to wash over the field. Urbanyi had the first four attempts, but could not get through and it was sophomore forward
Alex Walsh who fired off the final shot in the 110th minute, only to be saved once again as the match concluded in a 0-0 tie.
Academy of Art moves to 5-3-2 overall and 3-1-1 in PacWest play with the tie. Urbanyi had five of his team's nine attempts on frame and Mendez finished with a new career-high nine saves for his third shutout of the year.
Holy Names notches its first tie of the season, becoming 2-7-1 overall and 1-3-1 in PacWest play. Tomas Horak accounted for four of the team's nine shots on goal while Kevin Gonzalez earned the shutout with nine saves.
The Knights are back in action on their homestand when they host Fresno Pacific on Wednesday, Oct. 14 at Fairmont Field in Pacifica, Calif.
