GCU falls to CSU Bakersfield in overtime thriller

Friday, October 6

Bakersfield, Calif.

7:00 p.m.

Grand Canyon

4-6-0, 1-1-0WAC

CSU Bakersfield

4-6-0, 2-1-0WAC

OT 2

Grand Canyon

CSU Bakersfield

Photo by: Ricky Bassman

10/6/2017 9:16:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

Lopes out-shoot Roadrunners 23-13

By: Josh Hauser

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - The Lopes fired off 23 shots with 12 coming on goal, but CSU Bakersfield pulled off a come-from-behind victory to defeat Grand Canyon 3-2 in overtime. Malik Smith and Niki Jackson found the scoring column for the Lopes.

The Roadrunners scored in the 79th minute to force overtime and had a few more good looks as regulation ran out. CSU Bakersfield controlled the possession in the overtime period and broke through in the 94th minute.

GCU got the better of the scoring opportunities on the evening, but an impressive performance turned in by CSU Bakersfield goalkeeper Detre Bell kept the Roadrunners in the game. Bell ended with 10 saves on the evening.

The Lopes had leads of 1-0 and 2-1 thanks to goals from Smith and Jackson.

In the first half, Khadim Seye - who was one of the more active Lopes in the period - received a ball off the corner kick from Marco Afonso. Seye's header found Smith, who redirected the ball on a header off the left post and into the net. It was Smith's first collegiate goal and put the Lopes in front 1-0 nearing halftime.

Out of the halftime break, CSUB netted the equalizer in the 56th minute, scoring off of a free kick.

Under 10 minutes later, GCU reclaimed its lead. Amer Sasivarevic sent the ball to Afonso on the left who crossed the ball from one side of the field to the other. Jackson snuck the ball in the right side of the goal for his fifth score of the season.

But, again, the Roadrunners responded. Jamie Carey-Morrell tied the game at 2 on a highlight-reel bicycle-kick goal in the 79th minute. Charlie Keating and Afonso both had good looks in the final minutes of regulation, but the game moved to overtime.

Jeremy Pollard picked up a save in the first few moments of the overtime period before the Roadrunners snuck a ball by him. The Lopes did not get a shot off in four minutes of overtime play.

Grand Canyon heads north to San Jose where they will take on the Spartans on Sunday afternoon. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. MST.