Box Score SAN FRANCISCO, CA (September 25, 2014) – The Hawai'i Pacific Men's Soccer Team (3-3-1, 1-0) started PacWest play with a 4-1 victory against Academy of Art San Francisco (2-5-0, 0-1) on Thursday afternoon.
 
Both teams started the game very physical, resulting in many fouls on both sides within the first minutes. The Sharks managed to find their game fast and to create chances from the beginning on.
 
In the 37th minute, Art U had to stop HPU's thriving offense with a foul inside the box. HPU's top scorer Brais Garcia took responsibility and scored his fifth goal for the season by converting the penalty kick.
 
HPU stayed offensive and aggressive in the second period.  It was Mario Garcia who secured the lead after a good cross from Jorge Vela (62'), beating the keeper left and low. It was Mario's second goal in as many games.
 
Just three minutes later the Sharks struck again. Following a beautiful combination from Ryo Sugihara and Guillem Vinas Marin, Vela fired a shot from inside the box into the right corner of the net, not giving the keeper any chance.
 
Even after the 3-0 lead the Sharks kept on fighting for more. Seventy-Five minutes into the match, Brais Garcia scored his second goal of the day after another assist from the active playing Sugihara. Garcia's sixth goal of the season also brings the Spaniard back on top of the PacWest Scorerboard again.
 
One minute later, Art U was able to prevent the shutout by scoring on a shot from 20 yards out.
 
"We came together as a team today. We are battling through injuries, so the game required every able body to perform well and they did. Brais Garcia was excellent today, both in the attack and helping us secure the midfield. The goals we scored in the second half were developed by beautifully worked combinations. We will need the same effort on Saturday with a limited roster," said Head Coach Chris Fisher after the game.
 
The Sharks led the statistics in shots (16-15) and shots on goal (9-6). The physically hard play resulted in a total of 41 fouls (HPU 20-21), five yellow cards (HPU 2-3) and a red card for the home team. Jesse Kunitomo picked up five saves in his first start in goal.
 
The Sharks will play their next game on Saturday against Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont, CA, before returning to Hawai'i.