Men's soccer shatters attendance record, defeats UCF

Friday, August 26

Phoenix, Ariz.

7:00 p.m.

Grand Canyon

1-0

UCF

0-1

UCF

Grand Canyon

Photo by: Darryl Webb

8/26/2016 8:47:00 PM | Men's Soccer

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By: Josh Hauser

PHOENIX -- In front of the largest crowd to ever watch a college soccer game in the state of Arizona, the Grand Canyon men's soccer team christened GCU Stadium with a season-opening 4-2 victory over Central Florida on Friday night. Already matching last year's season high of four goals in a game, the Lopes used scores from Khadim Seye (2 goals), Damian German and Niki Jackson to begin the season with a victory in front of 6,402 fans.

"I think it's an amazing feeling," German said, a native of West Phoenix himself. "Walking out of the tunnel has to be one of the greatest feelings I've had. You were inside the tunnel and you could hear the crowd just roaring. I got a little nervous, but once I stepped on the field and saw all the fans were supporting GCU, it was one of the greatest feelings."

Coach Schellas Hyndman echoed German's thoughts about the atmosphere at GCU Stadium.

"Tonight that's what this was: a big game," Hyndman said. "It's a historic game. The first game in this beautiful stadium. I'm really proud of our guys, playing as well as they did and the efforts they gave."

A raucous crowd didn't have to wait long to see the first goal in the new stadium's history. After receiving a pass from a defender and looking to clear the ball, Central Florida goalkeeper Brendan Rennie was greeted by Lopes forward German in his face. Frantically trying to get rid of the ball, Rennie's kick was deflected by German into the Knights' goal at the 3:47 mark to put GCU in front early.

"You couldn't have written a better script," Hyndman said. "It's the first goal scored on this field. By a boy that's right here from this neighborhood. It's a fantastic storyline."

Just over 10 minutes later, GCU struck again. Jordan Slack intercepted a Knights pass and dribbled down the right side of the field, dealing a brilliant cross to Jackson in the middle of the field. Jackson headed the ball past the keeper to the right side of the goal, putting the Lopes in front 2-0 less than 15 minutes into the season.

Central Florida cut the Lopes' lead in half moments later, scoring at the 19:41 mark. Richard Amon weaved around GCU defenders and stuck the ball in the left side of the goal.

The high-scoring action subsided for 20 minutes until a hand ball in the box presented Grand Canyon with a penalty kick opportunity. Seye converted, kicking left past a goalkeeper diving the opposite way and sending the Lopes into the half with a 3-1 lead.

After ending the first half with a Seye goal, the second half began in similar fashion. Off of a free kick, the ball bounced all around the 18-yard box before ending up in Seye's possesion. With three defenders laced all over Seye, the junior dove and fired a strike to the left side of the net to put the Lopes on top 4-1.

GCU looked as if it had scored its fifth goal of the season, but an offsides call from the official negated the score in the 64th minute.

Trailing by three in the final 10 minutes of the contest, Central Florida got one back with an 82nd-minute goal. Amon scored his second goal of the evening on a quick strike from 10-yards out.

Grand Canyon dominated most of the statistical categories, nearly doubling the Knights in shots at 15-8. Central Florida committed 14 fouls compared to Grand Canyon's 10.

The Lopes are back in action next Friday, traveling to UC Irvine to take on the Anteaters. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.