GCU Defeats Western Washington, Starts New Streak

Tuesday, October 12

Bellingham, WA

7:00 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Western Washington

Ben Paneccasio

10/12/2010 4:53:03 PM | Men's Soccer

By: Joel Horn

Sophomore forward Kyle Ciliento (Phoenix, AZ/Pinnacle, Saint Mary's College of California) scored two goals to lead Grand Canyon University, ranked No. 1 in the West Region and No. 19 in the nation in this week's official NCAA Division II poll, to a 2-0 win over Western Washington University in a non-conference game tonight at Orca Field on the campus of Whatcom Community College in Bellingham, Wash.

Ciliento, a First-Team All-American and Pacific West Conference Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year last season, has scored 14 goals, one fewer than national leader Erik Gutierrez of Washington Adventist. He has five game-winning goals this season, which ties him with Hawai'i Pacific's Chance Bukoski for the conference lead and is three fewer than he had last year, when he led the league in that category.

Senior goalkeeper Ben Paneccasio (Sydney, Australia/Rosebank College, Tyler Junior College) made four saves, two in each half, and recorded his sixth shutout of the season. He had 12 shutouts in 2009, when he was named PacWest Goalkeeper of the Year and Newcomer of the Year.

The Antelopes improved to 9-1-1 overall and won their first game since their 12-game unbeaten streak going back to last season ended in Wednesday's 2-0 loss to Hawai'i Pacific at the GCU Soccer Field. It was the first loss of the season for GCU, which also is ranked No. 3 in the West Region in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America poll.

The Vikings, who had won two straight games and scored nine goals in their past two games, including five in a 5-2 win over Hawai'i Pacific on Sunday in Bellingham, fell to 5-5-2.

Ciliento's first goal was scored on a penalty kick in the 21st minute. His second came in the 50th minute, when he fought off a defender and scored from 9 yards out.

Senior forward Pat Perkins (Bremerton, WA/Bremerton, Olympic College) had the assist on the first goal because he was hit, resulting in the penalty kick. Junior midfielder Miguel Benavides (Salem, OR/Sprague) assisted on the second goal. Perkins now has four assists and 14 points on the season, and Benavides has three assists and three points.

Western Washington senior forward Gibson Bardsley, who was named Great Northwest Athletic Conference men's soccer co-Player of the Week for Oct. 3-9 after scoring five goals and being credited with an assist in Western's wins over Saint Martin's (4-3) and Hawai'i Pacific, was held scoreless. Bardsley leads the GNAC with 11 goals and has scored 34 in his career, second most in school history.

The 'Lopes had a 29-10 advantage in shots in the game, but had just one corner kick, five fewer than the Vikings.

It was a rough game, with 32 fouls being called, 16 on each team. Bardsley was issued a yellow card in the 49th minute and GCU sophomore defender/midfielder Chris Green (Phoenix, AZ/Thunderbird) received one in the 79th minute.

"It's always tough coming up here," Head Coach Petar Draksin said. "They're a very, very good team. They can score a lot of goals. I'm very proud of our guys. They got the job done, and that's the result we're looking for.

"Kyle worked very hard for the second goal. He did a great job finishing. It was an important goal because it took the pressure off us. And Ben made some great saves."

Before tonight's game, Ciliento ranked first nationally in points per game (3.38) and goals per game (1.5), and led the PacWest in shots (46), shots per game (4.60), points (27), points per game, goals (12) and goals per game. He also was tied for seventh in the conference in assists (3) and tied for eighth in assists per game (0.30).

Last season, he led the PacWest in goals (23), points (51), game-winning goals, points per game (2.55) and goals per game (1.15). He also tied for fourth in the conference in assists (5) and assists per game (0.25), and was a perfect 4-for-4 on penalty-kick attempts.

GCU now travels down I-5 to Seattle, where it will face Seattle Pacific University at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday at Interbay Stadium. The Falcons have won four of their past five games. The game is a rematch of one of last year's most thrilling contests. On Oct. 12, the No. 25-ranked Falcons defeated the No. 17-ranked 'Lopes 1-0 on a goal in the 51st minute by Scottsdale native Tyler Schultz.

Schultz led SPU with eight goals last season. He went on a hot streak earlier this season, scoring four goals and having two assists from Sept. 15-Oct. 6.

The Falcons are trying to win their first GNAC title since 2006. They finished third last season and second in 2008.

Senior midfielder Andy Wolverton leads the team with five goals, four of them coming in the past three games. Sophomore goalkeeper Zach Johnson has four shutouts and a 1.36 goals-against average.

SPU has an 11-3-3 advantage in the all-time series with GCU, including wins in the last two meetings.

Box score

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