HAYWARD, Calif., -- The Cal State East Bay men's soccer team defeated Academy of Art, 1-0 in their 2018 home opener at Pioneer Stadium on Thursday night, September 6.
 
With the victory the Pioneers improved to 1-1-0 on the season as they have not loss to the Urban Knights since 2015.
 
East Bay and ART U played a competitive and defensive first half that only saw one shot attempt from both teams combined. The momentum switched back and forth between both teams as they took a scoreless tie into the intermission.
 
The first 30 minutes of the second half were very similar to the first half as the teams ramped up their offensive aggressiveness. But it would be Cal State East Bay who would take advantage of their opportunities on the offensive end.
 
Senior newcomer Jonathan Ayala (Concord, Calif.) scored East Bay's first goal of the 2018 season as he rebounded his own shot and put it pass the right side of the net. Ayala led the Pioneers with three shots during the match.
 
Cal State East Bay would end up taking the shot advantage over the Academy of Art, 9-8 as five of the Pioneers shots came on goal to just four from the Urban Knights.
 
The senior duo of Luis Salazar (San Lorenzo, Calif.) and Jonathan Cuevas (Reno, Nev.) each compiled two shots apiece while Jared Simarago (Los Alamitos, Calif.) and Jared Johnson (Los Altos, Calif.) both tallied one shot attempt for the contest.
 
Omar Coronel (Santa Rosa, Calif.) played all 90 minutes in the box for the Pioneers and recorded four saves during the game while not allowing any goals.
 
Cal State East Bay will continue their 2018 home opening weekend with a match against the visiting Colorado School of the Mines on Sunday morning, September 9 with a 11:30 a.m. kick off at Pioneer Stadium.