Jackson nets first goal, GCU falls in overtime

Friday, August 25

Omaha, Neb.

4:00 p.m.

Grand Canyon

0-1

Omaha

1-0

OT 2

Grand Canyon

Omaha Mavericks

Photo by: Corey Solotorovsky

8/25/2017 6:33:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

Omaha ties score on contentious second-half goal

By: Josh Hauser

OMAHA, Neb. - After scoring the first goal of the game, Grand Canyon went on to lose to Omaha in overtime, 2-1, in the season opener on Friday evening. The Mavericks (1-0-0) used an impressive game-winning goal to the top right corner of the net to complete the comeback win over GCU (0-1-0).

It didn't take long. Forty minutes into the new season, reigning WAC Offensive Player of the Year Niki Jackson had his first score of the season.

The goal came on a beautifully-developed play. Damian German sent a ball skyward that was redirected to the foot of Charlie Keating on a header by Alex Ramirez. Keating used his back heel to touch the ball through the last line of defense to an open Jackson. Just before crashing to the ground, the senior forward sent the ball easily past the keeper and put Grand Canyon in front 1-0.

"The ball came back across from the other side and Charlie was able to get the ball to Niki," head coach Schellas Hyndman said. "It was a great goal that came on Niki's birthday."

German -> Ramirez -> Keating -> Jackson. #LopesRising

(h/t https://t.co/uNPZBo5PgE) pic.twitter.com/6tTTXdmB9h
— GCU Men's Soccer (@GCU_MSoccer) August 26, 2017

The Lopes' 1-0 lead held for nearly 35 minutes before controversy struck. A deep shot off of a free kick from the right wing landed in the hands of GCU goalkeeper Corey Marques. Marques' momentum took him backwards into the goal, with his outstretched arms holding the ball as far forward as possible. Confusion ensued when the officials ruled that the entire ball had cleared the line, resulting in the Mavericks' first score of the evening. The score was tied 1-1 in the 74th minute.

"They got a goal out of it," Hyndman said frankly. "Omaha put pressure on us. I was disappointed in the call, but at that point we just needed to keep our composure."

Grand Canyon did keep its composure through the remainder of regulation. Despite a handful of late scoring chances for Omaha on corner kicks and free kicks, the Lopes' defense kept the game tied and sent it to extra minutes.

While Omaha was responsible for much of the attacking to round out the second half, the script flipped to begin overtime with the Lopes controlling much of the possession. The freshman duo of Josh Drack and Marco Afonso manned the scoring attack in the overtime, but the best opportunity came from Jackson in the 96th. The forward found himself in deep position, but his shot to the left post didn't leave the ground and rolled to the feet of the goalkeeper.

Unfortunately for the Lopes, that represented their final scoring chance of the night. From the short left wing, Omaha's offensive standout Emmanuel Hamzat found the top corner of the opposite side of the goal, a perfectly-placed ball that ended Grand Canyon's season opener in heartbreak.

"It was just us missing a tackle," Hyndman said. "It was a great game-winning goal. A little bit of heartbreak for us."

Sixteen players saw action for Grand Canyon, including the official GCU debuts of Musa Morris Demos, Evan Waldrep, Bennett Lehner, Jackson Jellah and Marques and the collegiate debuts of freshmen Drack and Afonso.

Jackson led Grand Canyon with three shot attempts and all three were on target. Keating logged the third assist of his GCU career.

The degree of difficulty for Grand Canyon continues to rise, as the Lopes' next match comes against No. 14 Creighton. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. MST on Sunday.