Lopes return home, face UTRGV

Saturday, October 13

Phoenix, Ariz.

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

UT Rio Grande Valley

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10/12/2018 9:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer

GCU Match Notes 2018 Media Guide

GCU looks to build off of latest top-25 upset

By: Josh Hauser


UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros (8-4, 3-2 WAC)	vs.	Grand Canyon Lopes (6-6, 3-2 WAC)
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Coming off of its third victory over a top-25 opponent this season, the Grand Canyon men's soccer team briefly returns to GCU Stadium for one match against UT Rio Grande Valley on Saturday. The Lopes and Vaqueros are in a fourth-place tie in the WAC standings.

Saturday's match will serve as Alumni Night and is a featured Family Weekend event.

The game will be available on GCU.tv and the WAC Digital Network.

THREE THINGS TO KNOW

SUCCESS AS THE UNDERDOG: The Lopes have faced three top-25 opponents this season. They've beaten all three of them, the latest a 1-0 win over No. 25 Seattle U on Oct. 7. Head coach Schellas Hyndman: "Our team really plays well and up to the level of competition. Everybody was focused. It was a game where everybody came out and followed their assignments. They took pride in their roles and pride in the team as a whole." GCU opened the season with back-to-back home wins over No. 12 Wisconsin on Aug. 24 and No. 20 Creighton on Aug. 31.
SHUTOUT SQUAD: The Lopes recorded their fifth shutout victory of the season against Seattle U on Oct. 7. GCU set its Division I program record for shutout wins in a season (previously: 2017, four shutouts).
TASOURIS IN GOAL: Redshirt freshman George Tasouris sports an .857 save percentage that ranks No. 4 nationally. He's up to 54 saves on the year, a mark that ranks No. 6 nationally. All five of GCU's shutouts this season are credited to Tasouris.

SCOUTING

UT Rio Grande Valley is off to an impressive start. Its eight victories are already the most the program has posted in a season since 1992 (did not sponsor men's soccer from 1998 to 2014). The Vaqueros rank No. 46 in the RPI, the WAC's second-highest team behind No. 38 Air Force. UTRGV and GCU are tied in fourth place with a 3-2 record.

The Vaqueros split their first two weekends of the season before going on a four-game win streak, including a conference-opening win over UNLV. UTRGV fell in both matches of a road swing at Utah Valley and Air Force before defeating both Kansas City and Houston Baptist at home last weekend.

In the teams' meeting last year, the Vaqueros won 2-0 on their home turf. GCU was whistled for a yellow card in the first 60 seconds of the second half and allowed a goal on the ensuing free kick.

LAST TIME OUT

The Lopes split a two-match weekend on the West Coast.
GCU upset No. 25 Seattle U 1-0 on a Jackson Jellah header goal in the 55th minute. GCU is 3-0 against top-25 foes.
San José State scored a late goal to defeat GCU 1-0 on Friday.

WHAT'S NEXT

The Lopes are back on the road for games at Houston Baptist and Kansas City next weekend.
GCU closes out the home schedule on Oct. 26 and 28 with home games against Utah Valley and Air Force.

For more GCU men's soccer news, notes and numbers, click here to view the match notes and click here to view the media guide.