GCU Knocks Off Defending Champs

Saturday, August 29

W 2-1

8 p.m.

Grand Canyon

No. 1 Cal State Dominguez Hills

8/30/2009 1:36:13 AM | Men's Soccer

M Soccer

8-29-09

GCU Knocks Off Defending Champs

Talk about a first impression.

Freshman forward Kyle Ciliento (Phoenix, AZ/Pinnacle), the state of Arizona's all-time leading scorer who transferred to Grand Canyon University (GCU) after spending the past year at St. Mary's College, a Division I school in Moraga, Calif., scored two goals to lead GCU to a 2-1 non-conference win over defending Division II national champion and No. 1-ranked California State University Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) Saturday night at the GCU Soccer Field.

The first came at the 7:36 mark of the first half when Ciliento (No. 13, pictured) drilled a shot from the right side on an assist from junior midfielder/forward Pat Perkins (Bremerton, WA/Bremerton). The second was at the 24:14 mark of the first half, when he connected on a penalty kick past CSUDH's diving goalkeeper, Markus Dickerson.

Toros' defender Kevin Gallaugher also scored on a penalty kick, at 49:31 of the second half, to bring his team to within a goal, but GCU junior goalkeeper Ben Paneccasio (Sydney, Australia/Roseban K College) and a staunch Antelopes defense kept the defending champs at bay for the remainder of the game. Paneccasio, in his first start for GCU, finished with four saves.

Ciliento set state records for goals (160), assists (88) and points (408) at Pinnacle High School in north Phoenix. He set established single-seasons marks with 67 goals and 37 assists as a senior in 2007.

It was the season opener for both GCU and CSUDH.

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