SAN FRANCISCO, California – With the score knotted up at 2-2, Palli Ingvason scooted a shot through the posts to provide the game-winning goal as the Hawai'i Hilo Men's Soccer team defeated Academy of Art, 3-2, Monday morning at Paul Goode Field to open the Pacific West Conference season with a victory.
In the 76th minute, Ingvason skated around two defenders to fire a one-hopper to the right side that the ART U keeper could not handle as the ball skirted under for the score.
It was the Iceland-native's first collegiate goal and it could not have come at a better time.
In the waning seconds of the match, Academy of Art had one last corner-kick opportunity as the second-chance ball off the deflection was headed toward the back-side post, but Hawai'i Hilo keeper Christian Souza made a diving save to secure the win.
ART U got on the scoreboard early in the sixth minute off a corner by Elvis Mensah that was headed in by Chris Stokes.
The Vulcans got the first equalizer with Tom Vorkastner taking advantage of a lackadaisical reset by the Urban Knights. After catching a shot for a save, Academy of Art goalkeeper Jaiden Brooks quickly whipped the ball to the opposite side of the field where his teammates had not yet set up as Vorkastner dashed over to snatch the ball and ping ponged it over from Gabriel Gallardo to Aidan Santos for the score.
In the 38th minute, Vorkastner sent a ball in from near midfield off a free kick and it deflected off a defender for Gallardo to flush it in through for the 2-1 lead.
Academy of Art tied the score once again in the 51st minute after finding the oily touch to slip through the Vulcans defense on a counter with Gilly Miller sending a slow-rolling cross from the left side for Alejandro Palos to sneak the shot in.
The Vulcans upped the pressure and had a handful of ample opportunities negated by offsides and the ART U defense. Perhaps the Urban Knights' best opportunity to take the lead came in the 67th minute on a Miller-shot that hit the top cross bar.
UP NEXT
Hawai'i Hilo moved to 4-2-0 (1-0-0 PacWest) while Academy of Art moved to an 0-6-3 (0-1-0 PacWest) record.
The Vulcans will continue in Northern California against Dominican (Sept. 28) and Fresno Pacific (Sept. 30).
Hawai'i Hilo will return home and island hop to O'ahu to close out the non-conference slate against HPU on Oct. 4 before hosting the Sharks Oct. 7 in PacWest Conference play.
ONLINE TICKETS
Single-game and season tickets are now available to be purchased online through Hawai'i Hilo Vulcans Athletics' recently launched online ticket platform in partnership with AudienceView Campus.
The 2023 slate will feature 15 total home matches at the Vulcan Soccer Field with a package price of $30 for adults and $25 for seniors (ages 65-plus) and middle/high school students.
Both can be accessed at HiloAthletics.com/tickets.
