Sophomore forward Kyle Ciliento (Phoenix, AZ/Pinnacle/Saint Mary’s College of California) had two goals and an assist to lead the Grand Canyon University men’s soccer team, ranked No. 2 in the West Region and No. 15 in the nation in the official NCAA Division II poll and No. 3 in the region in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America vote, to a 6-0 victory over Chaminade University tonight at the GCU Soccer Field.
The Antelopes improved to 13-2-2 overall, 11-1-1 in the Pacific West Conference. The Silverswords fell to 1-12-1, 0-11-1.
Junior defender/midfielder Maximilian Aust (Pliezhausen, Germany/Wuerttemberg Gym) gave GCU a 1-0 lead in the 20th minute off of a corner kick by junior midfielder Mitchell Garcia (Avondale, AZ/Agua Fria, Phoenix College). Just one minute and 25 seconds later, senior forward Pat Perkins (Bremerton, WA/Bremerton, Olympic College) made the score 2-0 on another corner kick, this one by senior midfielder Joao Vieira (Amparo, Brazil/Barbosa, Marshalltown CC).
The third score was an own goal. Vieira shot the ball and it deflected off Chaminade defender Michael Werdien into the net. Ciliento’s first goal, his 20th of the season, came with just 21 seconds remaining in the first half. It was unassisted.
The second half picked up right where it left off. Ciliento scored his second goal less than two minutes after the period started. Junior defender Frederic Schoelzel (Gevelsberg, Germany/Gymnasium Hagen) was credited with the assist.
Ciliento is just two goals and three points shy of the 23 goals and 51 points he scored last season, when he was named PacWest Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year. So much for a sophomore slump.
Senior midfielder Harvey Martinez (Miami, FL/Coral Gables, Marshalltown CC) capped the scoring with an easy goal after a pass from Ciliento.
The ‘Lopes had a 21-1 advantage in shots, as well as a 13-0 edge in corner kicks.
Nineteen fouls were called, 11 of which were on the Swords.
Senior goalkeeper Ben Paneccasio (Sydney, Australia/Rosebank College, Tyler Junior College) recorded his 10th shutout of the season. He had 12 last year, when he was named PacWest Goalkeeper of the Year and Newcomer of the Year.
GCU is in first place in the PacWest with 34 points, four points more than Notre Dame de Namur (12-2-2, 9-1-2), which plays Academy of Art (6-10-0, 5-7-0) tomorrow in Belmont, Calif. NDNU hosts Dominican (3-10-3, 3-7-2) on Sunday in the last regular-season in the PacWest this year.
The ‘Lopes have a rematch with Chaminade at 5:45 p.m. on Friday in their last regular-season game of the season, so if they win that game they will capture their fourth PacWest championship in the five-year history of men’s soccer in the conference. They also won the title last year.
Through games of Nov. 2, GCU leads the PacWest in goals per game (2.38) and is second in points (102), goals (38), goals allowed (12), goals-against average (0.73) and shutouts (9).
Individually, Ciliento is first in shots (69), shots per game (4.31), points (41), points per game (2.56), goals (19), goals per game (1.19) and game-winning goals (7).
Paneccasio is tops in shutouts (9) and shutouts per game (0.56), and second in goals-against average.
Nationally, through games of Oct. 31 and out of 177 ranked schools, the ‘Lopes rank seventh in won-lost-tied percentage (.813), eighth in shutout percentage (0.56), 17th in team goals-against average (0.73), 27th in scoring offense (2.38 goals per game) and 29th in total goals (38).
Individually, out of 150 ranked players, Ciliento is first in goals per game (1.19) and total goals (19), and second in points per game (2.56) and total points (41).
Paneccasio is 17th in goals-against average (0.73).
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