Completed Event: Men's Soccer versus Santa Clara on September 8, 2025 , Win , 4, to, 0
M Soccer
vs Santa Clara
W 4-0
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Friday, October 23
Phoenix, Ariz.
7:30 p.m.
Grand Canyon
6-7-0
2
vs
3
Utah Valley
12-3-1
1
2
F
UVUM
3
0
3
Grand Canyon
2
0
2
Photo by: Darryl Webb
GCU Edged by Utah Valley
10/23/2015 11:07:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Lopes 2-0 lead through 20 minutes doesn't hold
PHOENIX – Despite a 2-0 Grand Canyon lead after 20 minutes of play, the Lopes dropped a 3-2 decision to visiting Utah Valley on Friday night at GCU Soccer Field.
Grand Canyon (6-7-0, 2-4-0 WAC) was handed its first loss of the season at GCU Soccer Field while Utah Valley (12-3-1, 5-1-1 WAC) stays within striking distance of conference-leading Seattle U.
A wild first half featured five combined goals between the two clubs before the scoring settled down in the second period.
The Lopes jumped out to an early lead when Alberto Sanchez Garcia took a free kick from outside the box and found the back of the net in the sixth minute. Garcia's team-leading eighth goal of the season gave Grand Canyon the 1-0 edge.
Less than 10 minutes later, a Wolverine foul in the box resulted in a penalty kick attempt for Grand Canyon. Niki Jackson added a tally to the GCU lead with a successful PK attempt, putting the Lopes on top 2-0 just over 13 minutes into the contest.
"We really had an outstanding first 20 minutes to go ahead 2-0," head coach Schellas Hyndman said. "A little bit more maturity on the team, I think we might have been able to come away with the win."
Utah Valley used its height advantage to score consecutive goals off corner kicks with Connor Salmon scoring on a header in the 22nd minute and Skyler Milne knotting the score with a header in the 28th minute.
"A lot of times in soccer you say a 2-0 score is the worst score to have, because once [the opponent] gets one, they have the momentum," Hyndman said. "Utah Valley is so much bigger than us, we did the best we could."
Having quickly erased the Lopes lead, Utah Valley claimed a lead of its own in the 37th minute as Paul Hoffmeister placed a ball into the right corner of the net.
After allowing three goals in a 15 minute span, Grand Canyon shored up its defensive efforts in the second half. The Wolverines were limited to just four shots in the second period and were held scoreless.
Despite eight second-half shots by GCU, the Lopes were unable to net the game-tying goal, as they dropped the contest to one of the WAC's frontrunners.
"Because Utah Valley wasn't attacking as much in the second half, it was harder for us to get behind them," Hyndman said. "Anytime we lose is disappointing, but they're a very good team. There's just things we couldn't match up with."
The road doesn't get any easier for the Lopes who draw a matchup with No. 19 Seattle U (13-3-0, 6-1-0 WAC) on Sunday at GCU Soccer Field.
"The message to the team was keep your head up. You gave everything on the field," Hyndman said. "We don't like losing at home. Can we come back with the same intensity on Sunday?"
Kickoff between the Redhawks and the Lopes is set for 2:30 p.m. at GCU Soccer Field.
Grand Canyon (6-7-0, 2-4-0 WAC) was handed its first loss of the season at GCU Soccer Field while Utah Valley (12-3-1, 5-1-1 WAC) stays within striking distance of conference-leading Seattle U.
A wild first half featured five combined goals between the two clubs before the scoring settled down in the second period.
The Lopes jumped out to an early lead when Alberto Sanchez Garcia took a free kick from outside the box and found the back of the net in the sixth minute. Garcia's team-leading eighth goal of the season gave Grand Canyon the 1-0 edge.
Less than 10 minutes later, a Wolverine foul in the box resulted in a penalty kick attempt for Grand Canyon. Niki Jackson added a tally to the GCU lead with a successful PK attempt, putting the Lopes on top 2-0 just over 13 minutes into the contest.
"We really had an outstanding first 20 minutes to go ahead 2-0," head coach Schellas Hyndman said. "A little bit more maturity on the team, I think we might have been able to come away with the win."
Utah Valley used its height advantage to score consecutive goals off corner kicks with Connor Salmon scoring on a header in the 22nd minute and Skyler Milne knotting the score with a header in the 28th minute.
"A lot of times in soccer you say a 2-0 score is the worst score to have, because once [the opponent] gets one, they have the momentum," Hyndman said. "Utah Valley is so much bigger than us, we did the best we could."
Having quickly erased the Lopes lead, Utah Valley claimed a lead of its own in the 37th minute as Paul Hoffmeister placed a ball into the right corner of the net.
After allowing three goals in a 15 minute span, Grand Canyon shored up its defensive efforts in the second half. The Wolverines were limited to just four shots in the second period and were held scoreless.
Despite eight second-half shots by GCU, the Lopes were unable to net the game-tying goal, as they dropped the contest to one of the WAC's frontrunners.
"Because Utah Valley wasn't attacking as much in the second half, it was harder for us to get behind them," Hyndman said. "Anytime we lose is disappointing, but they're a very good team. There's just things we couldn't match up with."
The road doesn't get any easier for the Lopes who draw a matchup with No. 19 Seattle U (13-3-0, 6-1-0 WAC) on Sunday at GCU Soccer Field.
"The message to the team was keep your head up. You gave everything on the field," Hyndman said. "We don't like losing at home. Can we come back with the same intensity on Sunday?"
Kickoff between the Redhawks and the Lopes is set for 2:30 p.m. at GCU Soccer Field.
Team Stats
UVUM
GCUMSOC
Goals
3
2
Shots
17
15
Shots on Goal
9
3
Saves
1
6
Corners
6
6
Fouls
12
12
Scoring Plays
Sanchez Garcia, A. (8)
Free kick outside the box, left corner o
5:48
Jackson, Niki (4)
GCUMSOC Jackson, Niki PENALTY KICK GOAL, goal number 4 for season.
13:10
Salmon,Connor (1)
Assisted By: Meyer,Aaron
Header into left corner of goal off of c
21:10
Milne,Skyler (7)
Assisted By: Meyer,Aaron
Header to the right corner of the goal o
27:13
Hoffmeister,Paul (5)
Assisted By: Buxton,Austin
Right corner of goal
36:02
Game Leaders
Shots
8
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
4
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's SoccerM/F
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