Jackson's hat trick leads GCU to 3-0 victory over IUPUI

Thursday, September 15

Phoenix, Ariz.

7:00 p.m.

Grand Canyon

3-3-0

IUPUI

0-5-0

IUPUI

Grand Canyon

Jackson's hat trick leads GCU to 3-0 victory over IUPUI

9/15/2016 8:43:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score GCU-IUPUI Box Score

By: Samantha Fell

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Just two matches into the 2016 home schedule and the Grand Canyon men's soccer team has surpassed last year's accumulative attendance and on Thursday night GCU stayed undefeated at home as Niki Jackson recorded his first career hat trick as the Lopes took down IUPUI 3-0. The Lopes improve to .500 this season with a 3-3-0 record.

In seven games, GCU had an accumulative attendance of 7,270 fans in 2015 and with Thursday's crowd of 2,418 the Lopes surpassed last year's mark with 8,820 fans in just two games this season.

"We weren't clicking in the first half but we got better as the game went along," head coach Schellas Hyndman said. "Niki (Jackson) had a great night and that was due to his hard work. We wanted to come out and dominate and I was very pleased with our 12 shots in the second half."

Jackson got off to a quick start with two shots in the first 10 minutes of play. In the 10^thminute, the junior was able to convert with his third goal of the season. After the ball bounced around between IUPUI and GCU, it landed on Jackson's foot inside the box where he scored to put GCU up 1-0.

IUPUI didn't record their first shot of the game until the 26^th minute as the Lopes defense held strong. Even though GCU did not generate a lot of shots in the first half, the Lopes did outshoot the Jaguars 4-1 and maintain possession in order to dictate the pace of play. Grand Canyon was accurate in the first 45 minutes with their shots, with two on goal both coming from Jackson.

In the second half, Jackson continued his offensive onslaught with a goal in the 54^th minute to make it 2-0 for the Lopes. Alexandros Halis was able to penetrate IUPUI's defense and play Jackson into the box for a strike from 12-yards out. To record his first career hat trick, Jackson would once again benefit from a Halis assist. Halis would cross the ball to the far-right corner of the box from 30-yards out on a free kick where Jackson headed the ball into the far-left post for his third goal of the night.

"We played really well offensively in terms of keeping possession and we improved on the final-third," Jackson said. "It is a crazy feeling to have a hat trick in college but more importantly it feels good to help the team win."

What was just as impressive as Jackson's hat trick was Grand Canyon's defense as the Lopes held the Jaguars to just two shots in the entire game. With just one shot in each half, GCU's back-line was able to keep pressure of Kendyl Day as he did not have to make a save the entire night.

"We trust Kendyl (Day) to make saves but as a back-line we wanted to reduce the shots he had to face," Hector Montalvo said. "This was our second clean sheet of the season and our goal is to keep adding more throughout the year."

The Lopes out shot IUPUI 16-2 with nine shots on goal for the Lopes.

The Lopes are back in action on Sunday at GCU Stadium to take on Pacific. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m.