SAN FRANCISCO – Even though Academy of Art men's soccer had outshot its opponent SF State in the first half of the unofficial battle for San Francisco, including twice ringing the goal frame, it was SFSU that would come out on the victorious end of the matchup by a final of 7-0 on Friday. 

Helping start the match on a quick pace was junior midfielder Gilly Miller, as his shot just 15 seconds into the match put the Urban Knights (0-3-0) on the stat sheet first. However, the first goal belonged to the Gators (1-1-1), as Denis Vezina finished a goal in the 7th minute from a Johnny Kuwano cross on the left wing. Minutes later in the 12th SF State struck again, as Kuwano would dribble the ball up the left side of the pitch before sending a cross to Vezina for another finish inside the box. 

Showing their grit and resolve, the Urban Knights would control the middle portion of the half, reeling off five consecutive shots that included a brilliant chance from senior midfielder William Mychaltchouk. After forcing a Gator giveaway, Mychaltchouk was able to take a great look at the net in the 30th minute from outside the box but drilled the left part of the frame, with SF State collecting the rebound to briefly escape pressure. 

Only moments later in the 31st minute did it feel like déjà vu for Academy of Art, as Miller found himself dribbling through the middle of the pitch before launching a laser of a shot on goal only to see the ball ricochet off the top of the goal frame. Unfortunately for the Knights, the ball would bounce down and spin out, thus denying ART U its first goal of the match. By the end of the first 45 minutes, it was the Urban Knights on top of the shot battle 7-6 despite trailing on the scoreboard. 

Most of the action in the second half would go way of SF State as they would score five times, all coming from different Gators. Despite taking another six shots in the second half, only one was on target as a strike from redshirt freshman midfielder Elvis Mensah forced a diving save by the SF State goalkeeper. 

Pacing ART U in shots was the duo of Miller and freshman forward Ismaël Elmi, though none of the six combined shots were on goal. Taking a pair of shots each was Mensah and senior midfielder Breki Einarsson, with one on goal from each. 

It will be a week before the Urban Knights return to the pitch, as they prepare to face Cal State East Bay from Pioneer Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 11 a.m.