LA MIRADA, Calif. – A tremendous double overtime battle was highlighted by sophomore goalkeeper
Davis King's first career shutout and ART U's first point of the season in a 0-0 tie with Biola.
"Tonight took strong efforts from the entire team and the bench," said head coach
Matt Martin. "I could literally name each player and talk about their contributions, their hearts and souls were in this, we battled, and we tried to win. This is the team we saw in the fall last year, gritty on the road. We finally put together 90 minutes plus 20 more to boot."
As the final minutes of regulation ticked down it looked as if the match would not need overtime. In the 88th minute ART U played in a cross to the center of the penalty box that was volleyed barely wide. Then one minute later in the final 20 seconds, sophomore midfielder
Gilli Kristjansson lobbed in an excellent ball on a free kick. An initial header was blocked but the deflection rolled directly to senior forward
Zak Kiser. He ripped a shot from just outside the goal box with his left foot, but an Eagles defender was there to make another block, so the match went into overtime.
Biola's late scoring opportunity came in the 85th minute on a counter-attack fast break. A through ball into open space led to a foot race between an Eagles forward and junior defender
Mykal Mason. With no one between the ball and the goal the BU forward would have an open shot on goal, but Mason kicked it into another gear, cut off the attacker, and cleared the ball out of bounds in a game saving moment.
Offense on both sides stalled in the first overtime period and neither team took a shot. ART U had two decent looks at goal in the second, but still neither team could find the net and the match ended in a 0-0 tie.
"It was the best match for at least four of our players and very good on the balance," said Martin. "We can build from here. I'm proud of the effort, now we dig deeper and find more results."
The Urban Knights notch their first points in conference after the tie, while their overall record moves to 0-8-1 and their conference record to 0-3-1. Academy of Art will continue their Southern California road trip by traveling to San Diego to face Point Loma on Saturday, Oct. 10.
