GCU readies for first Division I postseason action

Wednesday, November 8

Las Vegas, Nev.

8:00 p.m.

Grand Canyon

UNLV

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11/6/2017 3:10:00 PM | Men's Soccer

GCU Match Notes 2017 Media Guide

Lopes set for rematch with WAC Tournament host UNLV

By: Josh Hauser


(7) Grand Canyon Lopes (7-10-1, 4-5-1 WAC)	vs.	(2) UNLV Rebels (10-9, 7-3 WAC)
		Wednesday, Nov. 8 at 8 p.m. MST
GCU Match Notes Media Guide		~~Game Notes~~ Live Stats Live Video

The Grand Canyon men's soccer team makes its maiden voyage into Division I postseason play at the WAC Tournament in Las Vegas, Nev. The No. 7-seeded Lopes open up their participation in the tournament with an 8 p.m. MST first-round matchup against host and No. 2-seeded UNLV on Wednesday. The game will be available on the WAC Digital Network with Jordan Angeli (play by play) and Roland Vargish (analyst).

MATCH NOTES

GCU is participating in its first postseason since 2012 - the Lopes' final year at the Division II level - when the Lopes made a trip to the Sweet 16. A program that started in 1985 makes its 12th postseason appearance all-time and has a 1996 Division II National Championship to its credit.

Senior Niki Jackson leads GCU's offensive attack, coming into Wednesday's first round with goals scored in three consecutive games. The Scottsdale, Ariz. native has scored 10 goals this season which makes 40 for his career, a mark that ranks second in WAC history and third in program history.

As a team, GCU isn't afraid to take shots. The Lopes rank 15th nationally at 15.44 shots per match. GCU's shots are getting increasingly accurate as well, ranking 13th in the country in shots on goal per match at 6.72.

While Jackson represents GCU's biggest offensive threat, some underclassmen aren't far behind. True freshman Josh Drack and redshirt freshman Musa Morris Demos have each tallied 11 points on the season. Drack and Morris Demos represent the two most recent Arizona Gatorade Player of the Year selections.

LAST WEEK

In the regular season finale at GCU Stadium, the Lopes and Rebels played a tightly-contested 75 minutes of soccer. Trailing 2-1, GCU was forced to play a man down after a red card was handed out. From that point on, UNLV scored two goals to put the match out of reach. Jackson's 40th career goal came in the 56th minute.

Luckily for the Lopes, they had some help from Seattle U. The Redhawks defeated Utah Valley on the road, 2-1, thus guaranteeing GCU a spot in the WAC Tournament regardless of Saturday's result.

THE OPPONENTS

Not only are the Rebels the host of the WAC Tournament, they are also the reigning tournament champions. As the No. 4 seed a year ago, UNLV won the WAC Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Tournament where they won one game. Through the tournament, which was held in Orem, Utah, UNLV defeated UTRGV, the host Wolverines, and Air Force.

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.