German's golden goal lands GCU critical win

Sunday, October 29

Phoenix, Ariz.

7:00 p.m.

Grand Canyon

7-9-1, 4-4-1

Utah Valley

6-9-2, 3-4-2

OT 2

Utah Valley

Grand Canyon

10/29/2017 9:59:00 PM | Men's Soccer

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Lopes run home unbeaten streak to five matches, narrow in on WAC Tournament berth

By: Josh Hauser

PHOENIX - Grand Canyon rebounded from a last-second Utah Valley goal that sent the game to overtime, scoring on a Damian German golden goal in the 98th minute and defeating the Wolverines 3-2 on Sunday night. The Lopes remain unbeaten in their last five home matches and continue to control their own destiny for a WAC Tournament berth.

"I played Josh (Drack) a pretty good through ball, and he took a wonderful shot," German explained. "I knew the keeper wouldn't be able to hang on to that ball (after Drack's shot), so I was just waiting for wherever he was going to let it go. As soon as he made that save, I made a sprint and I was right there."

German's fifth goal of the season ended the match in the 98th minute.

"We came together and said we weren't going to lose this game," German said. "We knew if we just kept working hard, we would get that overtime goal."

The victory represented a crucial three points for the Lopes in the standings. A loss would have kept GCU in eighth place, on the outside looking in for tournament qualification. With the win, however, GCU is catapulted into a tie for fourth place in the WAC standings.

"It says a lot about the character of our team," head coach Schellas Hyndman said. "A lot of teams would have folded. As I said to our guys when we went out for overtime, 'They've got the momentum right now. Unless you match their enthusiasm, this game will be for nothing.' Our guys really came through."

After the Wolverines opened the scoring with a goal in the fifth minute, GCU scored back-to-back goals to take the lead.

In the 28th minute, Jackson Jellah crossed the ball to Niki Jackson whose header found the net. It was Jackson's ninth score of the year.

Josh Drack scored his third goal of the season in the 70th to give the Lopes a lead. Off of a throw-in from the right sideline, Jellah and Jackson each flicked the ball backwards. Drack left his feet and scored with Utah Valley's goalkeeper out of position.

Things looked good for the Lopes as the match reached the 90th minute. However, the Wolverines put three shots on frame in the final 60 seconds. The first hit the crossbar, the second was saved by Pollard, and the third was true.

Utah Valley had all of the momentum entering the overtime period, but German's score abruptly ended it.

Grand Canyon hasn't lost a home match since falling to Cal State Northridge 4-2 on Sept. 17. Sunday's match also marked the eighth overtime match of the season, most for a GCU team since also competing in eight in the 2007 soccer season. The Lopes are now 4-3-1 in extra time this season.

The Lopes will take the pitch next Saturday for the regular season finale and Senior Day. GCU welcomes in UNLV for a 7 p.m. MST kickoff in a match that will air on YurView (Ch. 4 / 1004), ESPN3, GCU.tv and the WAC Digital Network.