LA MIRADA, Calif. – Academy of Art men's soccer ended their 2023 season in style Saturday as the Urban Knights managed to score early and never looked back, concluding a 3-0 victory over the Biola Eagles at Al Barbour Field on BU's Senior Day.

The goal that gave the Urban Knights the lead in just the 10th minute came from a freshman midfielder Joey Glaab score that was sent into the box from a free kick by senior midfielder/forward Gilly Miller. This is Glaab's team-lead fifth goal of his freshman campaign while Miller collected his sixth assist on the year, which extends his career point total to 49 and career assist count to 15 (both most in ART U history).

The Knights and Eagles went back and forth with strong offense, which included multiple shots by Miller that made goalkeeper Aidan Burns work to not let the Eagles go down by two goals, and what turned out to be a save by sophomore goalkeeper Jaiden Brooks from a header that came his way off of Biola's Tomislov Jozonovic from a corner kick. Two more shots from junior forward Alejandro Palos would follow both in the 32nd minute, but the Eagle defense would hold strong with a block and goalkeeper save.

Finally in the 42nd minute, the Knights found the second score they had been searching for, with junior midfielder Ping Yao recording his first career assist as he sent in a ball from near the corner, with redshirt sophomore midfielder Elvis Mensah taking a touch in the box and sending a missile bottom left to extend their lead to 2-0.

With more shots in the first half coming from freshman defender Brody Duff and sophomore forward Ismaël Elmi, the Knights would finish the first 45 minutes of action with 11 shots, the most the squad has struck in a half in 2023. ART U also ended up with their most amount of shots on the year, totaling 17.

As the second half commenced, it was clear the Eagles were hungry to get a score quick to bring the deficit down to one. In the 50th minute, Pedro Ashley took off in a breakaway and managed to get a shot off in a one-on-one against Brooks, and just skied it above the bar. Dylan Memory looked to keep on the pressure as he sent the ball towards the Knights' net minutes later, and Brooks collected the save as he kept the danger away.

In the 64th minute, Glaab found the back of the net once more as he managed to send a header towards the goal from a difficult angle as the ball squeaked into the top left corner. Freshman midfielder Heath Nager recorded his first career assist on the play, as he sent the ball towards the far post off a corner kick.

Brooks had a day out in goal, as he recorded nine saves total in his first shutout win of the year. Brooks ends his sophomore campaign ranked among the top Pacific West Conference goalies in saves per game (third place). Sophomore defender Teo Benedick did his part helping the shutout, kicking a shot off the line as he prevented a goal against the squad in the 80th minute.

With the conclusion of the match, the Knights end their season on a high note and will return to the pitch in 2024. Stay tuned to www.ARTUAthletics.com for updates.