SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — A total of seven debuts were made Thursday by Academy of Art University women's soccer newcomers, but with inaugural excitement comes inexperience, which host Cal State San Bernardino took advantage of to the tune of a 3-0 win at Premier Field.
 
The Coyotes (1-0) got two goals from Melanie Aguayo and four points (1 goal, 2 assists) from Denae Verdine in the victory. It was the second straight season Cal State San Bernardino beat the Urban Knights (0-1) to open the year. Nicki Argentieri also had an assist for the Coyotes as CSUSB took advantage of ART U's abundance of youth.
 
Freshman midfielder Silvia Fernstrom and freshman goalkeeper Morgan Wirz both made their first career starts in their first career matches Thursday for the Urban Knights. Transfer sophomore Aliya Salas made her Academy of Art debut against her former team of CSUSB. Sophomore goalkeeper Maggie Alikpala-Wilson, freshman midfielder Alice Michell and freshmen defenders Caitlin Jones and Natalie Rhodes would all eventually step onto the pitch for the Academy of Art for the first time in their careers Thursday.
 
Verdine proved to be in the right place at the right time for her goal in the fifth minute of play. Wirz cleared the ball with a pass in front of the Urban Knights' box. Verdine placed herself between three defenders and got the ball for a quick strike and CSUSB led 1-0.
 
30 minutes later, Aguayo broke from the outside and drove a shot from 25 yards out from the GK's left side with an assist from Verdine. CSUSB took its 2-0 lead into halftime and at the 56th minute, Aguayo got the ball on a give-and-go from Nicki Argentieri and Verdine, beating the defense for her second goal of the day.
 
Senior forward Réa Laudat and sophomore midfielder Kendall Bozart each led the Urban Knights with two shots. Wirz (2 saves, 2 goals against) and Alikpala-Wilson (2 saves, 1 goal against) each played 45 minutes in the game. Cal State San Bernardino won the shots battle 17-6 (7-2 on goal) and earned six corner kicks to ART U's one.
 
Academy of Art next faces Cal Poly Pomona at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Kellogg Field.