'Lopes Win Hard-Fought Double-Overtime Game

Sunday, September 4

Phoenix, AZ

8:15 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Cal Poly Pomona

Mitchell Garcia

9/4/2011 4:14:00 PM | Men's Soccer

By: Joel Horn

Junior midfielder Lucas Mazier (Phoenix, AZ, Brophy College Preparatory, Regis University), a transfer from Regis University in Denver and a product of Brophy College Preparatory in Phoenix, came into the game for the first time in the second overtime. Just 36 seconds into the second extra period, he went up for a header at the 6-yard line, in front of the goal, and was undercut by a defender while he was in the air trying to head the ball. A penalty kick was called.

Senior defender Nick Sykes (Boise, ID, Mountain View) then drilled the ball into the back of the net, scoring the game-winner to give the Grand Canyon University men's soccer team a 2-1, double-overtime victory over Cal Poly Pomona tonight at the GCU Soccer Field.

The Antelopes improved to 2-0-0 on the young season. The Broncos fell to 1-1-0.

GCU got on the scoreboard first in the 31st minute when senior midfielder Mitchell Garcia (Avondale, AZ, Agua Fria, Phoenix College) crossed a corner kick and senior central defender Maximilian Aust (Pliezhausen, Germany, Wuerttemberg Gym, UNC-Pembroke) headed the ball into the net.

The Broncos tied the score in the 62nd minute when senior forward Luis Gonzalez scored from the left side off of a ball from senior midfielder Ricardo Reyes.

"That was a grinder," GCU Head Coach Petar Draksin said. "Pomona played us very, very well. I felt at times they played better than we did. We were a little bit rattled and disorganized at times. They were a little bit more patient than we were. With that being said, I have the utmost respect for Cal Poly Pomona's team this year, and obviously their coach has proven himself at different schools. He was at Notre Dame de Namur in 2008, and that's the only time we haven't won the PacWest title. Wherever he has been as a coach, he has done very, very well.

"For us, character and a never-ever-give-up attitude won this game. I love our team. I am very proud of our guys. We were under pressure being ranked No. 11 in the nation and No. 2 in the West. We are fighting to stay in the rankings and be as high as possible. I understand that the only ranking that matters is the one at the end of the season, but it's great to have these kind of results and stay in the top 25 in the nation. It's something that every program strives for.

"Being early in the season, I think every program is going through growing pains."

The 'Lopes had a 19-8 advantage in shots in the game, and the Broncos held a 5-3 edge in corner kicks.
Twenty-two fouls were called, 12 of them against Cal Poly Pomona.

Six yellow cards were issued, five of them to GCU.

Senior Adam Garcia (Avondale, AZ, Westview, Phoenix College, Gardner-Webb University), a transfer from NCAA Division I Gardner-Webb University, recorded three saves and earned his second win for the 'Lopes.

This was the 29th time that GCU and Cal Poly Pomona have played each other in men's soccer. The Antelopes now hold a 17-10-2 series lead, but the last time the teams met, in the 2008 season opener, the Broncos won 1-0.

Cal Poly Pomona, which has 16 seniors, received the second-most votes in the South Division and the third-most votes overall in the California Collegiate Athletic Association's preseason poll of league coaches. It is ranked No. 6 in the West Region in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America poll.

GCU 2, Cal Poly Pomona 1 (2OT)

###