GCU ends road stretch with loss at Wisconsin

Saturday, September 2

Madison, Wis.

5:00 p.m.

Grand Canyon

0-3-0

Wisconsin

1-0-2

Grand Canyon

Wisconsin

Photo by: Ricky Bassman

9/2/2017 7:58:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery Box Score (PDF)

Niki Jackson scores second goal of 2017

By: Josh Hauser

MADISON, Wisc. - Grand Canyon ended its three-game stretch of road games to open the season with a 3-1 loss to Wisconsin at the McClimon Soccer Complex on Saturday night. In the process, Niki Jackson picked up his second goal of the season. Jackson cut the Badgers' lead to two with his goal in the 65th minute. Freshman Marco Afonso was credited with the assist, the first of his collegiate career.

Unlike GCU's first two matches of the season where neither opponent was able to score in the first 70 minutes, Wisconsin got on the board early. After Amer Sasivarevic took the game's first shot, the Badgers quickly responded with a goal just 4:04 into the game. Mark Segbers netted his first of the season.

"Wisconsin scored in the first five minutes which rocked us a little bit," head coach Schellas Hyndman said. "It was one of those weird, weird games where we just had a lot of people that had an off day. It wasn't for lack of effort, it was just a lack of quality. It was disappointing for us."

Wisconsin scored in the 35th and 48th minutes of the game to take a 3-0 lead and wouldn't look back.

"We just came out flat," Hyndman said. "We had some really good moments, but those moments always turned out with a bad ending. Our other two matches went to overtime and we felt like we were right there in the game. That was obviously not the case tonight. We have to get back to our fundamentals."

It was a chippy contest in which 34 total fouls were issued, 19 of which were whistled on GCU. Additionally, Grand Canyon was booked for all four of the match's yellow cards.

"Wisconsin is a very direct and active team," Hyndman said. "When you're not defending that well, you tend to foul a lot."

Corey Marques started the game in goal for the third straight contest. Jeremy Pollard began the second half in the net, seeing his first playing time as a member of the Lopes. Pollard ended the night with two saves.

"Both guys have things to work on," Hyndman said of the keepers. "They're competing for the number one spot. We'll keep working."

While the Lopes had more corner kick opportunities (4-2), Wisconsin out-shot Grand Canyon 14-8. For GCU, Damian German and Alex Radilla each took two shots. Jackson's lone shot of the evening was the one that resulted in the goal.

Grand Canyon finally gets a chance to open up its home schedule when the Lopes return to host Evansville on Thursday night. The match, which is expected to be played in front of another huge crowd at GCU Stadium, is set to get underway at 7 p.m. MST. Fans can purchase tickets here, or plan on tuning in to YurView Arizona and ESPN3 or listening to Univision Radio.