GCU Caps Off Perfect Weekend Defeating HBU 3-1

Sunday, October 4

Phoenix, Ariz.

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

6-3-0

Houston Baptist

4-6-0

HBU

Grand Canyon

10/4/2015 9:30:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

By: Steven Gonzalez

PHOENIX – To wrap up the first weekend of play in the Western Athletic Conference, the Grand Canyon men's soccer team faced off against Houston Baptist at home. It took the Antelopes 20 matches last season to win five matches and in nine matches this season, the Lopes have surpassed last year's win total defeating the Huskies 3-1. GCU is now 6-3-0 this season.

"Today we got caught in a whirlwind because Houston Baptist worked extremely hard but we kept our focus and continued grinding away," head coach Schellas Hyndman said. "They were high pressing but we were able to make adjustments and come out with a win."

The Lopes scored its earliest goal of the season in the seventh minute from Alberto Sanchez Garcia. Alejandro Radilla served up a corner kick for GCU and after a few bounces, Alex Halis was able to maintain possession atop of the box where he dished the ball off to Garcia. After a few touches, Garcia went in the lower right 90 to give Grand Canyon the early 1-0 lead.

After the goal, Houston Baptist went on the offensive attack firing off eight shots in the first 45 minutes of play. The Huskie's best opportunity came in the 14^th minute when Marcelo Acuna was able to make a run along the right side of the box. Acuna had a one-on-one opportunity against GCU goalkeeper Kendyl Day and the keeper was able to come up with a huge save to hold the Huskies scoreless.

Day ended the first half with five saves as the Lopes went into halftime with the 1-0 lead.

Houston Baptist was able to cut GCU's lead in half in the 64^th minute when George Kelley put the Huskies on the board. HBU was awarded a free kick directly outside the box and Kelley was able to slide the ball underneath the wall and past Day to make it a 2-1 GCU lead.

The Huskies continued to pressure but the freshman Radilla sealed the win for Grand Canyon in the 82^nd minute with a beautiful goal from 40-yards out. As the ball continued to go back-and-forth, the ball came to the feet of Radilla on the left side of the field and right in front of his bench Radilla was able to bend the ball over the keeper's head in the opposite upper 90, scoring his first career goal at GCU.

"It feels great to score my first career goal but it feels even better to be 2-0 in the conference," Radilla said with a big smile on his face. "It gives us confidence going forward heading into conference but we have to keep playing with the same intensity."

This is the first time in school history that GCU has started 2-0 in the WAC. Grand Canyon will now begin its first WAC road trip of the year as they make the California trip next week. The road trip will begin on Oct. 9 against CSU Bakersfield and will conclude with a matchup against San Jose State.