Grand Canyon Picks Up First Win of the Season Over Portland

Friday, September 4

Portland, Ore.

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

1-1-0

Portland

0-3-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Grand Canyon	1	3	4
Portland	1	0	1

Photo by: Darryl Webb

Grand Canyon Picks Up First Win of the Season Over Portland

9/4/2015 10:51:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

By: Schellas Hyndman Earns First Career Win at GCU

Related: Box Score (PDF)

PORTLAND – Sept. 4, 2015 will be a day Grand Canyon men's soccer and head coach Schellas Hyndman will always remember as Hyndman picked up his first career win at Grand Canyon over Portland in a 4-1 victory. The Antelopes improved to 1-1 this season.

"Tonight was a special night for our players and coaching staff," Hyndman said. "I am proud of the way our team responded after last week's game and tonight they played to their strengths."

GCU's goalkeeper Kendyl Day started off the game with a huge save preventing a header from going in the back of the net to keep the match scoreless. Grand Canyon applied pressure in the first half on Portland's defense and it paid off in the 31^st minute as the Lopes forced an own goal to take the 1-0 lead. Portland evened the score in 14 seconds later with a goal from Matthew Coffey Por. Portland ended the first half with 11 shots, five on target compared to Grand Canyon's six shots with two on target. The Lopes' defense was heavy under pressure as the Pilots had 10 corner kicks but the Lopes were solid on set pieces and stood tall.

"Kendyl could have been the man of the match tonight," Hyndman said. "When the team needed him, he stepped up and made crucial saves that kept us in the game and I am proud of the way he organized the backline."

Both teams went into halftime tied at 1-1 but the Lopes took the lead early in the second half for their first goal of the season by a Lope. Niki Jackson received a pass from Alberto Sanchez Garcia inside the box where Jackson was able to convert and give GCU the 2-1 lead.

Day continued to come up clutch throughout the game with another sensational save, blocking a shot that was going in goal in the upper 90, preserving the 2-1 GCU lead. In the 74^th minute GCU would extend their lead to two goals off a penalty Kick from Sanchez Garcia for his first goal of the season.

Damian German added the icing on the cake in the 81^st minute for his first goal at Grand Canyon. German received a pass from Jackson inside the box and German converted from six yards inside the box.

"The best learning tool is the game itself and tonight our team showed what they can do if they play together and to their strengths," Hyndman said. "Offensively we were efficient and were able to get each other involved and this was a great bounce back win from San Diego State.

The Lopes will take the rest of the weekend off from play and will be back in action Friday, Sept. 11, against Green Bay for the first home match of the season.