Postseason push comes to GCU Stadium


Grand Canyon Lopes (6-9, 3-4 WAC)	vs.	#22 Seattle U Redhawks (11-2-2, 5-0-2 WAC)	Utah Valley Wolverines (5-8-2, 2-3-2 WAC)
		Fri, Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. MST	Sun, Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. MST
GCU Match Notes Media Guide		~~Game Notes~~ Live Stats Live Video	~~Game Notes~~ Live Stats Live Video

The Grand Canyon men's soccer team is set to end the regular season with three consecutive home matches at GCU Stadium where the Lopes feature an impressive 5-1 mark this season. For the final three games, GCU is set to host Seattle U, Utah Valley and UNLV. The Lopes host No. 22 Seattle U on Friday night followed by Utah Valley on Sunday night. It begins a critical stretch of games for the Lopes who are looking to qualify for the WAC Tournament in their first eligible season.

MATCH NOTES

GCU features an impressive 5-1 mark on its home pitch in 2017. The Lopes average 2.7 goals per match in home games as opposed to a 0.9 goals per match average on the road.

The Lopes currently sit in a sixth place tie in the WAC standings. This year's WAC Tournament, hosted by UNLV in Las Vegas, will feature the top seven teams in the regular season standings.

After sustaining an injury in the season opener, Creighton transfer Evan Waldrep has been cleared to make his return. Waldrep was named one of the nation's Top 3 transfers this offseason by Top Drawer Soccer.

Friday's match is set to feature two high-octane offenses in the Lopes and Redhawks. Seattle U leads the nation in shots per game, firing off 21.0 shots per match. The Lopes are second in the WAC and rank 12th nationally in shots on goal (6.8).

LAST WEEK

On Friday, the Lopes nearly pulled off a comeback at UMKC. GCU had a last-second goal negated on an offsides call. Musa Morris Demos scored the Lopes' lone goal in the 83rd minute.

In a matchup with No. 16 Air Force on Sunday, the Lopes struck first. Musa Morris Demos scored off of a Josh Drack corner kick in the 11th minute, the fastest goal scored by a Falcons' opponent in 2017. After GCU had two goals negated by officials, the Falcons went on to score three unanswered and win 3-1.

THE OPPONENTS

Seattle U is one of two ranked teams in the WAC this season, checking in at No. 22 in the Top 25 poll this week. Seattle's only two losses have come on the road at Porland and at home vs. Pac-12 competition in crosstown rival Washington. Seattle U has not allowed more than two goals to an opponent in a game this season. The Redhawks are coming off of a 1-0 win over Houston Baptist on Sunday.

Last season in Seattle, the Lopes dropped a 2-1 decision on Oct. 16. Charlie Keating scored his first GCU goal in the 78th minute, ending the Redhawks' shutout bid. Both teams took 14 shots.

The Utah Valley Wolverines haven't been able to live up to their high expectations after a strong 2016 campaign. Utah Valley is coming off of a WAC Regular Season Championship and was picked to finish second in the conference this season. However, WAC play didn't begin kindly for Utah Valley who tied its first conference match before going on to lose three consecutive matches. The Wolverines have played better of late including a draw against Top-25 competition in Air Force.

Grand Canyon fell to then-No. 21 Utah Valley 3-1 on the road on Oct. 27, 2016. Late in regulation, Andy Alanis scored GCU's only goal of the match.

For more GCU men's soccer news, notes and numbers, click here to view this week's match notes and click here to view the media guide.

MATCH NOTES

LAST WEEK

THE OPPONENTS

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Players Mentioned

Andy Alanis

Josh Drack

Charlie Keating

Musa Morris Demos

Evan Waldrep

Grand Canyon University Athletics