GCU Drops Tough 4-2 Match to UIW

Thursday, October 15

San Antonio, Texas

5 p.m.

Grand Canyon

6-6, 2-3

Incarnate Word

6-5, 2-3

Grand Canyon

Incarnate Word

10/15/2015 7:56:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

By: Steven Gonzalez

Box Score (PDF)

SAN ANTONIO – The Grand Canyon men's soccer team concluded its three-match road trip within the Western Athletic Conference against Incarnate Word. The Antelopes scored two second half goals but it wasn't enough as the Lopes fell to the Cardinals 4-2. GCU is now 6-6 this season and 2-3 in the WAC.

"I am proud of the boys because they left everything on the field tonight," said head coach Schellas Hyndman. "We created two excellent scoring opportunities in a tough astro-turf field. It has been a long roadtrip for us so we are thrilled to get back home and finally play some games at home."

After going into halftime tied at 0-0, where both teams struggled to find a rhythm offensively, the match opened up in the final 45 minutes of play with six goals in the second half. Alberto Sanchez Garcia scored the first goal of the game in the 52^nd minute off a free kick from 22 yards out. Garcia was able to bend his shot over the wall of defenders into the top right corner of the goal, giving GCU the 1-0 lead. Garcia now has seven goals this season.

Eight minutes later Incarnate Word would tie the match with a goal from Dylan Kelly off a long ball and Kelly would score again in the 66^th minute to give the Cardinals their first lead of the game.

Looking to make a comeback, GCU responded in the 76^th minute with a goal from Matthew King. After Alex Halis hit the crossbar, King rushed to the goal and capitalized off a rebound scoring his first career goal at GCU.

The Cardinals' Kelly would get his hat trick in the 78^th minute to give UIW the 3-2 lead and to seal the win, O'Neal Moore scored in the 82^nd minute giving Incarnate Word the victory.

Grand Canyon will now take the rest of the weekend off from play before heading home next weekend for two matches at home. The Lopes will begin their homestand on Friday, Oct. 23, against Utah Valley and ending the week against Seattle.