TURLOCK, Calif. – After jumping out to an early lead on a spectacular goal by junior forward
Adrian Cekala, Stanislaus State equalized late in the second half before winning the match on a golden goal, Sunday night at Warrior Stadium.
"Crushing feeling at the end," said head coach
Matt Martin. "After conceding the equalizer we were the better team in terms of ideas and movement. That led to more opportunities and more good connective soccer."
The Urban Knights defense came out strong in the first half, allowing just three total shots and keeping the Warriors off the board in the opening period. ART U was slow to get going offensively though, and the teams would enter the halftime breather in a scoreless tie.
The tie was finally broken in the 57th minute by an electrifying goal off the foot of Cekala. He sprinted down the left side of the field and beat a defender to the end line where he slid to take control of the ball. Cekala dribbled into the box, incredibly hurdled and dodged a slide-tackling defender, then perfectly wedged a ball between the keeper and left post to give ART U a 1-0 lead.
In the 77th minute the Warriors equalized with a goal of their own. SSU knocked a free kick in the middle of the box and forward Jake Mendoza was able to put it in the back of the net. The teams settled in defensively for the remainder of regulation and the match would head to overtime in a 1-1 tie.
The overtime period would last less than five minutes, as Adolfo Maldonado knocked a free kick from one yard outside the box around the ART U wall and into the bottom left corner of the net for a 2-1 Stanislaus State victory.
"When we play like we want, like we train, we have fun," said Martin. "This was a fun match to be a apart of, contentious at times but full of good soccer and two teams that wanted it. We were mentally better today, so despite the heartbreaker, we were able to achieve most of what we asked the boys to do. Very promising progress has been made, our effort and skill will be rewarded soon."
The loss drops Academy of Art to 0-2 on the year. The Urban Knights will have a week without games before they get back on the pitch on Sept. 15 against Cal State Monterey Bay at CCSF Soccer Field.
