Dixie State Upsets 'Lopes in Conference Opener

Saturday, September 17

Phoenix, AZ

8 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Dixie State

Yared Solscheid

9/17/2011 4:05:00 PM | Men's Soccer

By: Joel Horn

Junior midfielder Tyler Albretsen scored off of a rebound in the 28th minute for the game's only goal as Dixie State College upset Grand Canyon University, 1-0, in the Pacific West Conference opener for both teams tonight at the GCU Soccer Field in Phoenix.

The Antelopes, ranked No. 5 in the West Region in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America poll, dropped to 3-2-0 overall, 0-1-0 in the PacWest. The Red Storm improved to 2-2-1, 1-0-0.

"Dixie deserved that game," said GCU Head Coach Petar Draksin. "Their effort won the game for them. We just had a bad day in the office. Unfortunately we let our fans down, our families down, and we've got to get back to work and fix it and rebound immediately.

"I take full responsibility for our performance tonight. I did not have our team ready to play."

Statistically, the 'Lopes dominated the game. They outshot the Red Storm 22-9, and had a 9-2 edge in shots on goal and a 10-1 advantage in corner kicks.

Twenty-eight fouls were called, 16 of which were on Dixie State.

Red Storm sophomore goalkeeper Tyler Walters earned his first clean sheet of the season, recording nine saves.

At halftime of tonight’s game, a ceremony was held to commemorate Draksin’s 25 years of service to GCU.

Draksin’s first seven years with the program were as an assistant under Head Coach Peter Duah. With a combined record of 86-44-10 and an NCAA Division II tournament appearance, Draksin had an early taste of success as the ‘Lopes also won an NAIA District 7 championship in 1989.

Along the way, in addition to his responsibilities with soccer at GCU, Draksin coached various boys’ and girls’ club teams to championships, was the assistant coach at Apollo High, helped get the GCU women’s team started and helped coach the Arizona Sahuaros’ premier and developmental teams. The Sahuaros won a league championship under his guidance in 2003.

In 1993, Draksin became head coach of the GCU men’s team when Duah took a coaching position with the Arizona Sandsharks, a professional indoor team. Duah returned briefly and co-coached the Antelopes with Draksin during the 1996, 1997 and 1998 seasons.

Last year, “Coach Drak” was named NSCAA/Mondo Far West Region Coach of the Year. It was the second time he has won the award. He won it in 1996, when he also was selected NSCAA/Umbro NCAA Division II Coach of the Year.

Draksin has been the head coach of GCU's men's soccer program since 1993 and has compiled 181 wins. His teams have won four championships in the five-year history of men’s soccer in the Pacific West Conference and advanced to the NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Championship five times. He has guided the 'Lopes to five straight winning seasons and 12 winning seasons overall. He has coached 10 All-Americans and 24 players who have gone to the professional level, as well as six conference championships and the only NCAA national championship in GCU history for any sport.

GCU Executive Chairman of the Board Brent Richardson and CEO Brian Mueller presented Draksin will a plaque in honor of his silver anniversary at GCU.

The 'Lopes' will play their next four games in Hawai'i. They face Chaminade University on Sept. 24, BYU-Hawai'i on Sept. 26, Hawai'i Pacific on Sept. 29 and Hawai'i Hilo on Oct. 1.

Dixie State 1, GCU 0

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