Box Score

San Francisco, CA -- In a match tightly contested throughout, the Academy of Art University men's soccer team fell 2-1 to Dominican at Boxer Field on Thursday. Quick goals by each Pacific West Conference team came midway through the first half before a score by DUC in the second gave the visitors a winning margin. Sophomore forward Brazer Bozlak scored his first goal of the season when ART U tied the game in the opening period.

"The team battled hard today, we just did not seem to be clicking," Head Coach Daniel Rosaia said. "We couldn't put it together at the right times and Dominican definitely plays a defensive style. It was just two evenly matched teams and we battled to a 2-1 game."

The squads were tied for the majority of the first half. Following a scoreless opening 24 minutes, Dominican's David Mendez sent a ball out of the ART U defense to an open Pedro Guevara. Guevara then put a goal in past a diving sophomore goalkeeper Ian Sutherland.

Shortly thereafter in the 25th minute, Bozlak retied the match 1-1 with a goal of his own. After receiving a pass across the defense from freshman midfielder Andrew Durano that put Bozlak in position, the Galve, Sweden native dribbled into the box and scored off the left post.

Coming out of halftime still tied 1-1, the Penguins counter-attacked following an Urban Knight corner kick in the 52nd minute. Guevara got into ART U backfield and fired a shot that deflected off the defense and into the goal. The score put Dominican ahead, but Academy of Art University continued to press against the Penguins late in the match.

Consecutive crosses by Bozlak and Durano in the 88th minute kept the opportunities coming for the Knights.

The Urban Knights' lone goal was scored by Bozlak who finished with the one shot on frame. Durano added an assist as well as a shot on goal. He continues to lead the team in assists (5) this season. Freshman forward Patrick Heinemann also registered a shot on frame. Between the pipes, Sutherland finished with four saves and two goals allowed in a complete 90 minutes. Academy of Art University's record moves to 5-7 overall and 4-5 in PacWest play.

"Durano is on fire right now," Coach Rosaia said. "He is playing really well. Durano's a gamer and a good surprise this year for us. And we've been waiting for Brazer to get a goal so it's good that he did because it's good for his confidence. We hope he keeps this going. Overall, this was a tough loss for us, but we will regroup and come out hard against Notre Dame de Namur on Saturday."

Dominican's hero was Guevara with his two goals in the match. He added three shots on frame while Mendez tallied the lone assist. In goal, Mathew Carlson finished with a 90-minute performance that featured two saves and one goal allowed. The Penguins improve to 1-8-1 overall, 1-4 in conference play.
 
ART U men's soccer continues its homestand with a match against Notre Dame de Namur on Saturday, Oct. 9. The Knights and Argonauts are scheduled to face off at 2:00 PM inside Boxer Stadium.