McGlothan's first career goal backs German's hat trick

Thursday, September 14

Phoenix, Ariz.

7:00 p.m.

Grand Canyon

2-4

UC Riverside

0-5

OT 1

UC Riverside

Grand Canyon

Photo by: Michael Rincon

McGlothan's first career goal backs German's hat trick

9/14/2017 10:08:00 PM | Men's Soccer

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GCU wins crazy shootout 5-4 in final seconds of first overtime

By: Josh Hauser

PHOENIX - A wild shootout of a soccer match was ended just seconds shy of the 100-minute mark as Aidan McGlothan's first career goal was a golden goal as the Lopes staved off UC Riverside 5-4 on Thursday night. The visiting Highlanders scored three unanswered goals to take a 4-3 lead with under five minutes to play, but Damian German netted the equalizer and McGlothan headed in the game-winner. German recorded a hat trick in regulation to send the Lopes to their fifth consecutive home victory, dating back to 2016.

"I looked up and saw there was 10 seconds left so I knew we had to score," McGlothan said. "Josh Drack found the perfect spot like he had been doing all night."

A foul was whistled on UC Riverside to stop play with six seconds remaining. Drack took the free kick from near the edge of the midfield circle. McGlothan connected on a header just outside the goal box and found the back of the net.

It was Drack's second assist on the night in a match where he also scored his first collegiate goal, a total of four points.

It was the heroics of German, however, that helped keep the Lopes in the game and sent the match to overtime in the first place. The junior forward recorded his first career hat trick, perhaps the biggest coming in the final five minutes of the match to dodge what would have been a heartbreaking loss.

The night began with a 1-0 UC Riverside lead after the Highlanders scored in the first 10 minutes of the match.

GCU countered with three consecutive goals, two coming from German. He dribbled around a few defenders and took a shot from the top left of the box that found the right corner of the net in the 25th minute. Just seconds before halftime, the Highlanders were whistled for a handball in the box, resulting in a penalty kick opportunity for GCU. German took the kick and converted, giving the Lopes a 2-1 lead into the break.

Less than 10 minutes into the second period, freshman Josh Drack scored his first collegiate goal. Amer Sasivarevic dribbled down the left wing and centered the ball to Drack, who found the left of the goal.

The middle stages of the second half did not go the way of Grand Canyon, however, as the Highlanders scored three unanswered goals to take a 4-3 lead. The first goal snuck between Pollard's hands and the right crossbar, trickling into the goal. To tie, UC Riverside was the beneficiary of a foul called in the box, as the Highlanders converted on the penalty kick in the 82nd minute. In the 86th, a strong strike from the top of the box for UC Riverside found the bottom of the crossbar and bounced off the ground and into the goal. With under five minutes to go, UC Riverside had a 4-3 lead.

GCU ensured UC Riverside's lead was short-lived, however, scoring on the ensuing possession off the kickoff. Austin Day dribbled his way deep into the box and crossed the ball into German from the right. German came streaking in to score his third goal of the game and tie the score at 4.

Neither side had any serious scoring opportunities in the overtime period, and the match looked poised to head to a second overtime. However, Drack connected with McGlothan for the game-winner to send the GCU faithful home with a victory.

The highly-offensive nature of the game resulted in 19 shots for GCU and 17 for UC Riverside. German was the offensive star with the three goals, but Drack was key in three different scoring plays as well.

In goal, Jeremy Pollard played the first 70 minutes of the contest for Grand Canyon before Corey Marques took over for the final 30 minutes. Marques was credited as the winning goalkeeper and earned his first collegiate victory. Both keepers ended the night with two saves.

Niki Jackson was limited to just 14 minutes of action after being kept out of the remainder of the match with an injury. Also unable to play were GCU starters Khadim Seye, Charlie Keating and Jordan Slack.

Grand Canyon returns to the GCU Stadium pitch for the second game of a four-game homestand, hosting the CSUN Matadors on Sunday night at 7 p.m. MST.