Completed Event: Men's Soccer versus CSUN on September 26, 2025 , Win , 2, to, 0
M Soccer
vs CSUN
W 2-0
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Saturday, October 13
Phoenix, Ariz.
7 p.m.
Grand Canyon
1
vs
2
UT Rio Grande Valley
Lopes fall in OT before big crowd
10/13/2018 9:41:00 PM | Men's Soccer, Paul Coro
UTRGV wins 2-1 after Lopes dominate 1st half
The Family Weekend crowd of 2,563 fans created a lively GCU Stadium atmosphere for a Lopes men's soccer game Saturday night.
It also provided built-in comfort for how the game ended. The Lopes dominated much of the game's action but could not capitalize enough to avoid overtime, where UT Rio Grande Valley scored for a 2-1 WAC victory.
GCU outshot UTRGV 7-1 in the first half but the game remained scoreless until the second half, when sophomore midfielder Justin Rasmussen made the most of his first career start with his first career goal to answer a Vaqueros goal and set up overtime.
Nearly three minutes into overtime, UTRGV junior forward Kyle Edwards controlled the ball outside the penalty area and sent a sharp, left-footed kick into the upper-left corner for his seventh goal of the season and a celebration by UTRGV (9-4, 4-2 WAC).
"The guys were just getting tired," GCU head coach Schellas Hyndman said. "It gave him (Edwards) too much time to look to see where he wanted to put the ball and then he hit a good shot. It's disappointing but I really think our guys played well. It's like I told them: I can't fault them for their effort and the way they played. We just have to put goals away. If you don't, a lot of teams will build confidence."
The Lopes (6-7, 3-3 WAC) peppered the Vaqueros in the first half, nearly scoring less than three minutes into the game when sophomore forward Josh Drack's steal and pass set up sophomore forward Marco Afonso for a shot that went off the crossbar.
GCU forced UTRGV goalkeeper Andy Rios to make five first-half saves to keep him and the fans on their toes. Despite a rainy day, the crowd increased GCU's attendance average to 2,462.
"We had two gorgeous opportunities," Hyndman said. "The goalie made some really nice saves and we didn't put our chances away. If the ball would've went the way we hoped it would go, we could've been up 2-0 and maybe we could've put the game away.
"They play a unique way. They keep the ball and try to lull you asleep and then they explode."
That happened in the third minute of the second half, when the Lopes defense let a crossing pass slide through the box untouched, giving Jaakko Hietikko an easy tap-in goal from near the far post to an empty net.
GCU, now in sixth place in the 12-team WAC, responded less than six minutes later. Rasmussen picked up the start with senior Jackson Jellah out for a red card in the previous game. It was ideal timing with 14 out-of-town relatives and friends coming to see the Las Vegas native play.
Rasmussen played a solid overall game but got his chance to shine for his parents, grandparents, brother and others when junior Marlon Atondo sent a cross in front of the goal, where it deflected off a UTRGV defender who was trying to shield it from GCU freshman forward Calvin Kissi. Rasmussen controlled the carom and knocked the ball into the goal's upper-left side to tie the game.
"I felt like I took full advantage of my first start," Rasmussen said. "I made sure I connected on my passes, played my role correctly and got my first goal, which was awesome. In the moment, seeing all the fans and all the guys rush in with the hugs was definitely something I'd dreamed of. But to finish like that on the loss, it was definitely bittersweet."
The Lopes nearly swiped the win in the final moments of regulation. In the 87th minute, Drack sent a low pass that ran across the front of the goal just before freshman forward Bert Wilton's slide could get there to redirect it to the net.
Without a second goal, the Lopes headed for overtime only the second time this season (0-2) after going 4-3-1 in overtime games last season. GCU is now 4-3 at home with two games remaining at GCU Stadium against the WAC teams tied for first place – Utah Valley (Oct. 26) and Air Force (Oct. 28).
The Lopes next play at Houston Baptist (4-5-3, 2-3-1 WAC) on Friday.
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Follow Paul Coro on Twitter: @paulcoro.
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It also provided built-in comfort for how the game ended. The Lopes dominated much of the game's action but could not capitalize enough to avoid overtime, where UT Rio Grande Valley scored for a 2-1 WAC victory.
GCU outshot UTRGV 7-1 in the first half but the game remained scoreless until the second half, when sophomore midfielder Justin Rasmussen made the most of his first career start with his first career goal to answer a Vaqueros goal and set up overtime.
Nearly three minutes into overtime, UTRGV junior forward Kyle Edwards controlled the ball outside the penalty area and sent a sharp, left-footed kick into the upper-left corner for his seventh goal of the season and a celebration by UTRGV (9-4, 4-2 WAC).
"The guys were just getting tired," GCU head coach Schellas Hyndman said. "It gave him (Edwards) too much time to look to see where he wanted to put the ball and then he hit a good shot. It's disappointing but I really think our guys played well. It's like I told them: I can't fault them for their effort and the way they played. We just have to put goals away. If you don't, a lot of teams will build confidence."
The Lopes (6-7, 3-3 WAC) peppered the Vaqueros in the first half, nearly scoring less than three minutes into the game when sophomore forward Josh Drack's steal and pass set up sophomore forward Marco Afonso for a shot that went off the crossbar.
GCU forced UTRGV goalkeeper Andy Rios to make five first-half saves to keep him and the fans on their toes. Despite a rainy day, the crowd increased GCU's attendance average to 2,462.
"We had two gorgeous opportunities," Hyndman said. "The goalie made some really nice saves and we didn't put our chances away. If the ball would've went the way we hoped it would go, we could've been up 2-0 and maybe we could've put the game away.
"They play a unique way. They keep the ball and try to lull you asleep and then they explode."
That happened in the third minute of the second half, when the Lopes defense let a crossing pass slide through the box untouched, giving Jaakko Hietikko an easy tap-in goal from near the far post to an empty net.
GCU, now in sixth place in the 12-team WAC, responded less than six minutes later. Rasmussen picked up the start with senior Jackson Jellah out for a red card in the previous game. It was ideal timing with 14 out-of-town relatives and friends coming to see the Las Vegas native play.
Rasmussen played a solid overall game but got his chance to shine for his parents, grandparents, brother and others when junior Marlon Atondo sent a cross in front of the goal, where it deflected off a UTRGV defender who was trying to shield it from GCU freshman forward Calvin Kissi. Rasmussen controlled the carom and knocked the ball into the goal's upper-left side to tie the game.
"I felt like I took full advantage of my first start," Rasmussen said. "I made sure I connected on my passes, played my role correctly and got my first goal, which was awesome. In the moment, seeing all the fans and all the guys rush in with the hugs was definitely something I'd dreamed of. But to finish like that on the loss, it was definitely bittersweet."
The Lopes nearly swiped the win in the final moments of regulation. In the 87th minute, Drack sent a low pass that ran across the front of the goal just before freshman forward Bert Wilton's slide could get there to redirect it to the net.
Without a second goal, the Lopes headed for overtime only the second time this season (0-2) after going 4-3-1 in overtime games last season. GCU is now 4-3 at home with two games remaining at GCU Stadium against the WAC teams tied for first place – Utah Valley (Oct. 26) and Air Force (Oct. 28).
The Lopes next play at Houston Baptist (4-5-3, 2-3-1 WAC) on Friday.
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Follow Paul Coro on Twitter: @paulcoro.
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Players Mentioned
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