FRESNO, CALIF. – Academy of Art women's soccer began their second-to-last 2016 road trip against the formidable 6-5-1 (4-3-1 PacWest) Fresno Pacific Sunbirds who put on an offensive clinic. With 27 shots and 14 on goal, FPU bested the Urban Knights four goals to none.
 
To start the first half, sophomore goalkeeper Morgan Wirz was a brick wall in front of the net, collecting five saves in the first 25 minutes before the Sunbirds finally broke through in the 26th-minute. With the score at 1-0, FPU continued to apply the pressure and as a result, added two more goals before the half was over. ART U did look to respond however, as redshirt junior Mariandrea Otero-Molano managed two shots (both on goal) before the first period came to a close.
 
Junior goalkeeper Maggie Alikpala-Wilson replaced Wirz in the second, looking to provide some fresh legs after an offense-heavy first half. However, the Sunbirds tacked on their fourth goal in the 57th-minute to make it 4-0, the final score of the match. Otero-Molano continued to provide an offensive spark as her shot on goal in the 59th-minute was her third of the contest and the Urban Knights' only shot of the half.
 
With the loss, Academy of Art now moves to 1-11-1, (1-6-1 PacWest) and will now return to the city by the bay. The Urban Knights' next game will take place at Dixie State on Saturday, October 22 with an 8:00 p.m. kickoff.