HAYWARD, Calif. – The first goal of the Academy of Art women's soccer season would wind up being a game-winner, as junior forward Reyna Valencia struck for the only score of the match while sophomore goalkeeper Nicole Peoples registered her third consecutive shutout in ART U's 1-0 non-conference victory over Holy Names on Wednesday. 

Scoreless at halftime and with HNU leading the shot comparison by a 6-4 margin, Valencia's early second-half tally would energize the Urban Knights (1-1-2), lifting them to their first win of the campaign. While out on the left wing, junior forward Baylie Christensen would send a pass into the middle of the box, where a deflection would leave Valencia to clean up for a goal right in front of the net. That would spur the Knights to a total of five shots over the period, with all making their way on goal.

While the Hawks (0-6-0) would give it their best effort, they could not break through the stone wall that has been Peoples, as the ART U keeper earned her first career win with three saves on nine shots faced. This is the third consecutive clean sheet for Peoples, which moves her into a tie for the second-most shutouts in a single season in program history. It has been quite the stretch for Peoples, as she has now made a streak of 33 saves without allowing a goal, dating back to the second half of the season opener against Cal State Dominguez Hills.

Though the two teams were level at nine shots apiece by the end of the match, the Knights put eight of their looks on goal, including both shot attempts from freshman midfielder Zineb Ighirri. Six others would put their only shot attempt on net, while the Hawks were led by a pair of chances from Andrea Eusebio. 

Pacific West Conference play begins the next time ART U takes the pitch, with the Knights traveling to Southern California to take on Biola on Sept. 30 beginning at 4 p.m.