Simon Fraser Wins Battle of Heavyweights

Saturday, September 10

Lacey, Wash.

12 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Simon Fraser

Saeed Robinson

9/10/2011 6:18:00 PM | Men's Soccer

By: Joel Horn

Sophomore forward Carlo Basso scored on a penalty kick in the 10th minute as Simon Fraser University defeated Grand Canyon University, 1-0, in a neutral-site game today at the SMU Soccer Field in Lacey, Wash.

The Antelopes, ranked No. 1 in the West Region and No. 9 in the nation in this week's National Soccer Coaches Association of America NCAA Division II poll, fell to 2-1 this season. The Clan, which is unranked despite having captured the Great Northwest Athletic Conference title last year in its inaugural season in the conference and returning eight starters, including a league-best five first-team all-stars, improved to 3-0.

The game was billed as battle of heavyweights, and it lived up to its billing.

"I am very proud of our guys, with the effort they put into this game, especially in the second half," GCU Head Coach Petar Draksin said. "Whoever named this contest the battle of heavyweights, they couldn't have come up with a better name. In the first 15 minutes, our speed of thought and speed of play wasn't very sharp, and it cost us. That's how they got their goal. Unfortunately when two teams like this play, that's all it takes is one error for one team to win it and the other to lose it.

"After they scored the goal on the penalty kick, we made some adjustments and then we picked it up. We established more and more confidence, and we were playing much harder. We had a few opportunities, but we did not capitalize on them. As a soccer coach, we strive to play teams like this. Simon Fraser's program has been around for a long time. We have a lot of history in our program, but they have even more history. They're going to be a power to be reckoned with in Division II.

"It was work, it was fun. Now we'll step back and refocus, and learn from this game. I am glad we have two days of rest, because our players are truly exhausted. It was a battle. I was extremely proud of our center back, Nick Sykes. He had an excellent game. Adam Garcia made an incredible save on a free kick. Saeed Robinson continues to be very dangerous offensively. We just need to give him some offensive help. It's still early in the season and we're continuing to grow as a unified team."

GCU had 13 shots, seven of which were on goal and eight of which came in the second half. Simon Fraser had 11 shots, eight of which were on frame but only three of which were in the second period.

Junior defender Stipe-Darko Medic (Brela, Croatia, Fra Andrije Kacica Miosica, Illinois Central College) and junior forward Saeed Robinson (Portmore, Jamaica, Wolmers Boys School, Western Texas College) each had two shots on goal for the 'Lopes.

GCU senior goalkeeper Adam Garcia (Avondale, AZ, Westview, Phoenix College, Gardner-Webb University) recorded five saves, and Simon Fraser junior keeper Sheldon Steenhuis made six in earning his third win of the season.

The 'Lopes had a 4-2 edge in corner kicks in the game. Twenty-five fouls were called, 13 of which were on the Clan.

Seven yellow cards were issued, four of them on Simon Fraser.

GCU has won four championships in the five-year history of men's soccer in the Pacific West Conference. It faces Saint Martin's (2-1), also of the GNAC, at 1 p.m. on Tuesday in Lacey.

Simon Fraser 1, GCU 0

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