GCU Off to Florida to Face UCF

Grand Canyon (3-1-0, WAC) at Central Florida (1-3-0, American)
Date: Friday, Sept. 18
Time: 5:00 p.m. (MST)
Location: Orlando, Fla. – UCF Soccer Complex
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PHOENIX – The Grand Canyon men's soccer team will takes its three-match winning streak on the road this weekend to Florida for a matchup against Central Florida. With three non-conference matches left, the Antelopes have already surpassed last year's win total during their non-conference play after taking home first place in last week's GCU Soccer Classic.

For the first time since Oct. 25, 2012 GCU has won three matches in a row and the straight wins are first since transitioning to Division I. Last season the Lopes scored 18 goals and four matches into 2015 GCU has already scored eight goals from four different players. In their first two-match weekend of the season, the Lopes allowed just one goal in 190 minutes of play after recording their first shutout of the season against Green Bay. GCU has been accurate thus far into the season firing off 59 shots with 24 on target for 40.7 percent shots on goal.

Alberto Sanchez Garcia has been active on the offensive end for the Antelopes as he ranks first in the WAC in shots recorded with 25 in just four matches while other teams have played six matches already. Garcia averages 6.25 shots per contest and is tied for fifth in points (6) in the conference. The senior has recorded at least one point in the last three matches GCU has played in.

After another game-winning goal against Green Bay, Niki Jackson is second in the WAC with two game-winning goals. Jackson ranks second on GCU's squad with five points (2 goals, 1 assist). After getting his third start in goal this past weekend, goalkeeper Kendyl Day ranks first in the WAC in saves per game with 6.67.

All-Time Series
Grand Canyon will face Central Florida for the first time in school history.

Head Coach Schellas Hyndman Quote of the Week
"We are off to a really good after winning our last three games but we have a quick turnaround heading to Central Florida. We have a few injuries but we feel that we have some great momentum right now and I know it will be a good contest against Central Florida."

Scouting Central Florida
After winning its season opener, Central Florida has dropped three straight matches including the last two on the road. The Knights have received scoring contributions from four different players led by Matias Pyysalo and Hadji Barry each with two goals. Pyysalo leads UCF in points this season with three assists along with two goals for a total of seven points. Central Florida has picked up its offense attack when entering the second half as they have doubled their point total from two to four from the first period to the second period. Corner kicks have been the gameplan for UCF early in matches with 15 in the first half this season compared to just seven in the second half. Two goalkeepers have played for UCF this season but Zach Briggs has received a majority of playing time posting a 0.86 goals against average with one shutout.

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