POMONA, Calif. — A reorganized defense kept the Academy of Art University women's soccer team close Saturday, but a lone goal in a frenzy before halftime was all No. 20 Cal Poly Pomona would need to grab a 1-0 victory at Kellogg Field.
 
After allowing three goals on Thursday, the Urban Knights (0-2) held the 20th-ranked team in the country scoreless for the first 43 minutes of the game. Freshman goalkeeper Morgan Wirz and sophomore Maggie Alikpala-Wilson split duties in net and combined for five saves.
 
The 20th-ranked Broncos won the shots battle 20-3 and held a 7-0 corner kicks edge. It was off a corner kick where Cal Poly Pomona would score the only goal of the game in the 44th minute. The Broncos took three shots and earned two corner kicks in a span of 118 seconds with time winding down in the first half, the last of which resulting in a goal. Natalie Di Angelo's corner kick found Lauren Miller for her first goal of the season and a lead with 1 minute, 52 seconds before the first half ended.
 
Senior forward Réa Laudat led the Knights for the second straight match with two shots (one on goal). Freshman midfielder Silvia Fernstrom also had a shot in the game.
 
The Urban Knights return to San Francisco for their home opener at noon on Tuesday versus Cal State Monterey Bay.