MATCH #1Academy of Art (0-0-0) at Cal State San Bernardino (0-0-0)
Thursday, Sept. 3, 2015, at Noon PDT
San Bernardino, Calif. — Premier Field
LIVE STATS MATCH #2Academy of Art (0-0-0) at Cal Poly Pomona (0-0-0)
Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015, at 11:30 a.m. PDT
Pomona, Calif. — Kellogg Field
LIVE STATS SAN FRANCISCO — This fall's 2015 Academy of Art University women's soccer season will be like a new beginning, even though it will be the team's second year under head coach
Katie Awerkamp.
The Urban Knights embark upon the 2015 campaign starting Thursday in Southern California against perennial playoff programs from the California Collegiate Athletic Association, Cal State San Bernardino and Cal Poly Pomona. Nine newcomers will make their ART U debut in the opening week, including a brand new goalkeeper and a new-look midfield.
New 'keepers
Morgan Wirz and
Maggie Alikpala-Wilson will anchor the defense with the help of returning seniors
Caina Field and
Marissa Ramirez. Newcomer
Makayla Godden played defense for a championship-calibur Fresno City College team and should mix well with defensive returners
Laura Mick,
Mariandrea Otero Molano,
Aly Morgan and
Maddie Shelton.
The offense will be spearheaded by senior Réa Laudat, a forward who had a stellar junior year in 2014 with top-five ART U single-season performances in points (13, 4th), goals (6, t-3rd) and goals per game (0.33, t-3rd). Returners
Kendall Bozart and
Brooke Stewart (both fourth on the team in points in 2014), along with freshmen
Alice Michell and
Silvia Fernstrom, should all help in the offensive surge.
The Urban Knights matched their 2013 season record in 2014 with a 3-14-1 showing in 18 games. ART U improved its record in the Pacific West Conference from the year prior, going 3-9 (nine points) compared to 2-9-1 (seven points). PacWest play begins for the Knights on Sept. 26 with a four-game road trip to Hawaii.
Thursday's season opener is a rematch of 2014's season opener against the Coyotes in San Francisco, when ART U held CSUSB scoreless for 55 minutes before eventually falling 2-0. The Urban Knights will make their 2015 home debut at noon on Tuesday versus Cal State Monterey Bay at Skyline College in San Bruno, Calif.
The mix of young, experienced veterans coupled with the influx of energetic newcomers should give the Academy of Art University women's soccer team plenty to aspire for in 2015, starting on the road this week in Southern California.
