Upcoming Event: Men's Soccer versus UNLV on September 26, 2026 at TBA
M Soccer
TBA
vs UNLV
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Sunday, November 11
Seattle, Wash.
2 p.m.
Grand Canyon
12-8-0
1
vs
0
San José State
8-10-3
| Team | 1 | 2 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose State | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Grand Canyon | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Photo by: Joe Whiteside/WAC
Lopes claim WAC Tournament title
11/11/2018 5:15:00 PM | Men's Soccer
GCU claims automatic bid to NCAA tournament
SEATTLE — The Grand Canyon men's soccer team picked the right time to find a winning formula, one that carried them all the way to the NCAA tournament.
GCU defeated San José State 1-0 on Sunday to claim the 2018 WAC Tournament championship and capture the conference's automatic NCAA tournament bid.
The Lopes' first match in the 48-team tournament will be announced Monday at 11 a.m. (Phoenix time) on ncaa.com. GCU likely will be among the 32 teams that play in the first round on Thursday.
"It's historic," Lopes head coach Schellas Hyndman told the WAC Digital Network. "It just shows that if you keep working at it and you give it time, you can really turn a program. We're so proud of it. We have a lot of young players here. The future of GCU, this is the start. This what I said to the guys. This is the start. We'll make history and it'll be easier moving forward because people will want to be here."
The Lopes did not allow a single goal during their three-match march through the WAC Tournament, beating each opponent by a 1-0 score.
In Sunday's final, Lopes sophomore forward Marco Afonso passed into the box to find a streaking Alex Radilla, a senior midfielder. Radila took the pass on the left side with his left foot and sent it wide right of the Spartans goalkeeper to give the Lopes a 1-0 lead. The 24th-minute score, Radilla's second goal of the season, was all the offense the Lopes needed.
GCU freshman goalkeeper George Tasouris, who won WAC Tournament MVP, made four saves and posted another clean sheet in the championship game. Tasouris' 22 saves for the tournament were the most by a player since the WAC reinstated men's soccer for the 2013 season.
Hyndman is one win shy of becoming the fifth men's soccer coach in Division I history to win 500 games. He now has guided teams to the NCAA postseason in 31 of 33 eligible seasons during his 35-year collegiate coaching career.
"It's fantastic," Hyndman said. "It's great to represent the WAC and earn an automatic win. Complete courageous team. Three shutouts here. Very good competition. So glad to be part of GCU, a great institution with great leadership from our athletic director Mike Vaught."
Return to GCULopes.com for more coverage of the men's soccer team's WAC Tournament championship.
GCU defeated San José State 1-0 on Sunday to claim the 2018 WAC Tournament championship and capture the conference's automatic NCAA tournament bid.
The Lopes' first match in the 48-team tournament will be announced Monday at 11 a.m. (Phoenix time) on ncaa.com. GCU likely will be among the 32 teams that play in the first round on Thursday.
"It's historic," Lopes head coach Schellas Hyndman told the WAC Digital Network. "It just shows that if you keep working at it and you give it time, you can really turn a program. We're so proud of it. We have a lot of young players here. The future of GCU, this is the start. This what I said to the guys. This is the start. We'll make history and it'll be easier moving forward because people will want to be here."
The Lopes did not allow a single goal during their three-match march through the WAC Tournament, beating each opponent by a 1-0 score.
In Sunday's final, Lopes sophomore forward Marco Afonso passed into the box to find a streaking Alex Radilla, a senior midfielder. Radila took the pass on the left side with his left foot and sent it wide right of the Spartans goalkeeper to give the Lopes a 1-0 lead. The 24th-minute score, Radilla's second goal of the season, was all the offense the Lopes needed.
24' | First goal to the Lopes! It's @radillalex putting GCU in front 1-0. #LopesUp pic.twitter.com/LvwBjO6HiA
— GCU Men's Soccer (@GCU_MSoccer) November 11, 2018
GCU freshman goalkeeper George Tasouris, who won WAC Tournament MVP, made four saves and posted another clean sheet in the championship game. Tasouris' 22 saves for the tournament were the most by a player since the WAC reinstated men's soccer for the 2013 season.
Hyndman is one win shy of becoming the fifth men's soccer coach in Division I history to win 500 games. He now has guided teams to the NCAA postseason in 31 of 33 eligible seasons during his 35-year collegiate coaching career.
"It's fantastic," Hyndman said. "It's great to represent the WAC and earn an automatic win. Complete courageous team. Three shutouts here. Very good competition. So glad to be part of GCU, a great institution with great leadership from our athletic director Mike Vaught."
Return to GCULopes.com for more coverage of the men's soccer team's WAC Tournament championship.
Team Stats
SJSU
GCU
Goals
0
1
Shots
10
10
Shots on Goal
4
4
Saves
3
4
Corners
5
6
Fouls
14
15
Scoring Plays
Radilla, Alex (2)
Assisted By: Afonso, Marco
Through ball from the 18 from #17, slott
23:02
Game Leaders
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
5
SOG
3
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
From 9-0 1st Inning Deficit to Mountain West Champs
Monday, May 11
A New Challenge for GCU Softball
Monday, May 11
Tinley Lucas Believes in Her Staff
Monday, May 11
Conference Tourney MVP Oakley Vickers
Monday, May 11