SAN FRANCISCO – As Head Coach Lauren Nadler closed out her third year coaching Academy of Art women's soccer, the team saw numerous on-the-field improvements while the core of the squad gained valuable experience developing their game.

The Knights saw themselves with their best marks in recent years in numerous statistical categories. With new additions to the backline and graduate student goalkeeper Nicole Peoples competing in her final collegiate season, ART U had their fewest goals against average in Nadler's tenure by over an entire score per contest while additionally allowing the fewest amount of total shots in the last four seasons. 

"Allowing far less goals this season reflects our team's ability to defend together and for each other," Nadler said. "It also speaks to players' willingness to do whatever the team needs at that moment. For instance, we often had a senior captain starting next to a first year center back. We had injuries that resulted in a player who usually plays in the midfield playing the backline at times. When a first-year got injured, one of our starting juniors played outside back. Whether it was a returner or a first year, time and time again we saw players step up and step into roles when their team needed them. This commitment to the team is foundational to our improvement."

ART U's home-opener kicked off the 2024 campaign on Sept. 5, as the Knights began their season off with a tie against Cal State Dominguez Hills in a scoreless draw while Peoples defended the home net with nine saves. Soaring through four more non-conference matches before Pacific West Conference play, the Knights competed with UC Merced on Sept. 10, Cal Poly Humboldt on Sept. 14, Fresno Pacific on Sept. 21, and Jessup on Sept. 25. The Knights closed out non-conference action with the latter as it was the last matchup between the two before battling for a PacWest win, and both teams showed up to compete. ART U's 11 shots against Jessup wound up to be the season-high total, all while freshman defender Mia Gonzalez knocked through her first collegiate score off a header into the top left corner on a ball dished in from a junior forward Danielle Medellin free kick.

Now in PacWest Conference matches, the Knights began the stretch with a trio of matches out on the islands, visiting No. 25 UH Hilo on Oct. 1, Chaminade on Oct. 4, and Hawaii Pacific on Oct. 6. The squad followed their trip up with a home contest against Biola on Oct. 10, and stayed in the area for their away match at Dominican's place on Oct. 17. To tie the match up in the 23rd minute versus the Penguins, another freshman in midfielder Piper Schmidt put it away this time around knocking in a score that was sent her way from sophomore forward/midfielder Alanna Del Carlo.

A two-part stint on Treasure Island followed thereafter with the Knights hosting Fresno Pacific on Oct. 19 and Menlo on Oct. 26 before heading out to Jessup for a match on Oct. 30. Back home to close out the season, three Southern California schools made the trip to battle the Knights. Starting off against Westmont on Nov. 2, sophomore forward Jade Alverio managed to send a rocket towards the top left corner for a score after receiving a pass from senior midfielder Valeria Perez Rivera. With Azusa Pacific following the match up on Nov. 4, No. 20 Point Loma visited CCSF Soccer Field on Nov. 9 for ART U's Senior Day where the Knights said farewell to senior defender Haley Vaughan, senior defender forward Halldóra Einarsdóttir, senior defender Anna Maggi-Brown, Perez Rivera, and Peoples.

"We are grateful for our seniors and the time, energy, and work they've put into our program," Nadler said. "They played alongside first-year players and worked together to solve problems, challenged each other to be better, and supported each other along the way. They helped display to younger players what it means to work side by side on and off the field."

To close out the year, five members were ART U were honored with an achievement that ties together their on the field performance in alliance with their studies as each sophomore midfielder Ashley Tasev, Del Carlo, Peoples, Alverio, and Vaughan were recognized in the announcement of the 2024 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team selections on Nov. 19.

With Peoples in net for a majority of the season, ART U ended first in the PacWest in saves per match, as they totaled 7.56 per contest in 2024 while the graduate student contained an average of 7.40, also first in the conference among individuals.

"This season, progress is being made," Nadler said. "Everyone on our team knows our record isn't acceptable to any of us and that we need to do better going forward. Everyone's committed to learning and growing, while at the same time recognizing that progress is being made. We know that through our consistent effort, support of one another, and dedication to improving, we will make persistent progress."

Academy of Art now turns to the page to the offseason, looking to build upon consistency and experience heading into the 2025 campaign next year.