GCU drops 3-1 match against Portland

Thursday, September 22

Phoenix, Ariz.

7:00 p.m.

Grand Canyon

3-5-0

Portland

5-3-1

POR

Grand Canyon

9/22/2016 9:04:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score

By: Steven Gonzalez

PHOENIX – In their final non-conference at home this season, the Grand Canyon men's soccer team dropped a 3-1 match to Portland (5-3-1). GCU falls to 3-5-0 heading into conference play beginning next week.

"We're a good team but we are going really deep into our bench," head coach Schellas Hyndman said. "When we do get a chance to tie the game, we give up a goal in the next two minutes and we have to be more disciplined next time."

The Pilots jumped on the Lopes early, scoring in the eighth minute but the Lopes were able to rebound by generating an offensive attack with six shot attempts. The Lopes had three opportunities on goal in the first half but not a better opportunity came in the 36th minute when Alexandros Halis put a shot on goal but Portland's Paul Christensen came up with a block. Niki Jackson then received the rebound and put a header on goal that hit the crossbar to keep GCU scoreless heading into half.

After a slow start in the second half, GCU would tie the match in the 60th minute. After a foul by the Pilots that gave the Lopes a free kick from 35-yards out, Halis served a ball from the left side of the field to the far right post where Jackson was able to put a header in the back of the net.

Jackson has now recorded a point in three straight matches and now has six goals on the season.

The tie didn't last long as Portland would score two minutes later to reclaim the 2-1 lead. The Pilots Conor Johnson took a shot from the inside box to garner his second goal of the game.

In the 71st minute, GCU defender Hector Montalvo was issued a red card after a slide tackle. Montalvo was ejected from the game and the Lopes were forced to play the remainder of the game with only ten men on the field.

"We've had three game that we've had red card players. That's just emotional intelligence and lack of focus," Hyndman added. "Right now, we are not that good of a team to continually lose a player that's a quality player for us. The effort has always been there and now we need to become a little more effective and score goals."

To solidify the win, Portland's Benji Michel scored in the 83rd minute to give the Pilots a 3-1 advantage.

Portland out shot GCU 17-10 for the game and also attempted seven corner kicks compared to only three for the Lopes.

Next up, the Lopes will play in their first conference match of the season as they host San Jose State on Friday, Sept. 30, at GCU Stadium.