SAN FRANCISCO – On the eve of officially starting the program's 11th year, Academy of Art University Women's Soccer looks for a breakout campaign with a strong returning contingent plus 11 new faces in the Urban Knights' second year under head coach Chris King.

ART U plays the first part of its 18-match regular season this Thursday, Aug. 30 across the bridge at Cal State East Bay. A 12-match PacWest Conference schedule will follow beginning on Sept. 17 on the road at Fresno Pacific, the favorite to win the conference after the Sunbirds were edged by California Baptist in 2017. For a more in-depth look at the Urban Knights' 2018 schedule, click here!

The roster features a large returning senior class with midfielders Silvia Fernstom and Alice Michell, defender/midfielder Chayney Mata, midfielder Rocky Herrera, forward Dani Tellez, and goalkeeper Morgan Wirz. That crew of leaders collectively played over 5,470 minutes last season with Herrera redshirting.

Several juniors also return including defender Mikayla Lopez, midfielder/defender Casey Childers, and forward Jenny Wittor. Both Childers and Whittor scored goals for ART U last season and they will combine with incoming forward Anissa Wilson from Fresno City College, a team whom she helped guide to a 2017 national title while starting all 27 matches and ranking second on the team with 23 goals, 20 assists, and a team-high 66 points.

Two more of the team's scoring threats come in the sophomore class as forward/midfielder Sydney Cooke and forward Alyssa Rasmussen join defender Veronica Rodriguez and incoming goalkeeper Lara Pflicke. Rasmussen's goal, which came off a pass from Cooke, was the second score for Academy of Art in its 2-0 win over Holy Names on Oct. 21 last season.

A total of nine freshmen will also contribute to a refreshed roster. Goalkeepers Jordyn Wight and Dru Keizer, defender McKenna Dubose, midfielders Avica Robings and Emma Kelekoma, midfielder/defender Britney Flint, midfielder/forwards Reyna Valencia and Brooklyn Morera, and forward Baylie Christensen all hail from a variety of locations along the West Coast and Utah.

ART U's experienced core of returning leaders and the new young talent step onto the pitch united this Thursday.