Lopes handed 1st WAC loss

Friday, September 28

Phoenix, Ariz.

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

4-5 (1-1)

CSU Bakersfield

3-6 (1-1)

CSU Bakersfield

Grand Canyon

9/28/2018 8:18:00 PM | Men's Soccer

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GCU outshoots CSU Bakersfield, held scoreless

By: Josh Hauser

The Grand Canyon men's soccer team was handed its first loss in WAC play, falling to CSU Bakersfield 2-0 at GCU Stadium on Friday night.

GCU (4-5, 1-1 WAC) claimed the majority of the game's scoring chances with a 9-6 shots advantage and a 7-3 edge in corner kicks. However, CSU Bakersfield (3-6, 1-1 WAC) held GCU without a score.

For the second consecutive home match, the game's first shot was a goal for the opponent. In the 12th minute, CSU Bakersfield's Niklas Koerber threaded a gap in GCU's back line and found the feet of a wide-open Tom Shepherd who converted the easy opportunity.

GCU spent much of the first half taking free kicks. Many of the Roadrunners' nine first-half fouls took place in their defensive third, creating free-kick opportunities for the Lopes. GCU saw a few good scoring opportunities on headers go just off the mark.

Momentum turned in the Lopes' favor in the 61st minute when a red card was assessed to CSUB's Stephon Marcano for time wasting. Marcano's absence gave the Lopes a man-up advantage for the match's final 30 minutes.

GCU pressed the visitor hard over the next five minutes of play, threatening on back-to-back corner kicks.

The 'Runners quickly turned the tide despite the man-down disadvantage, scoring their second goal of the match in the 66th minute. After GCU goalkeeper George Tasouris punched out a ball following a throw-in, the 'Runners sent the ball backward toward midfield. From near the center circle, freshman Niall Owens delivered a beautiful feed into the box for junior Ryan Goldsmith, who found the left corner of the net.

Both of GCU's on-target attempts came in the final 20 minutes, when the Lopes were staring at a 2-0 deficit. In the 73rd minute, a corner kick by Lopes sophomore forward Josh Drack found the head of sophomore defenseman Brandon Johnson, but CSUB's keeper tipped the ball over the crossbar. With less than three minutes to play, Austin Day took a shot from the left wing that was easily saved by the keeper.

Working toward a weekend split, the Lopes will cap off the two-match weekend on Sunday when they host California Baptist at 6 p.m.