Lopes tie at California Baptist

Friday, October 4

Riverside, Calif. / CBU Soccer Field

3:30 p.m.

Grand Canyon

4-2-3, 1-0-2

California Baptist

1-7-3, 0-1-2

Grand Canyon

California Baptist

10/4/2019 6:45:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

GCU records 5th shutout in season's 8 games

By: Cassidy Mace

RIVERSIDE, Calif. — The Grand Canyon men's soccer team recorded its fifth shutout in eight games on Friday night, when it played to a scoreless tie at California Baptist.

The Lopes (4-2-2, 1-0-1 WAC) battled through a double-overtime game against the Lancers (1-7-2, 0-1-1 WAC), finishing at 0-0 in their first road conference matchup this season.

GCU senior Austin Day, junior Justin Rasmussen and sophomore Esai Easley each recorded multiple shots, with Rasmussen and Easley each putting one on goal. The Lopes entered the game ranked 30th in the nation for goal against average (0.83 per game).

"That game really took a lot out of us." Lopes head coach Schellas Hyndman said. "That was a difficult game for us. It was a wide-open game. There didn't seem like there was much ball control on either team and, because of that, it just turned into a very back-and-forth game. It took a lot of energy out of us. I think we'll show in our next game how difficult this one was. So, it was a little disappointing on us. I think we're a better team than that. Right now, we're going through a couple key injuries. But I know we're a better team than what we showed today."

GCU junior forward Rey Gaytan recorded the first shot for either team in the match in the 23rd minute, missing wide left. Rasmussen, a midfielder, followed up with another shot two minutes later. California Baptist missed scoring chances on back-to-back corner kicks in the 36th and 38th minutes before Day, a defender, put another Lopes shot on the board in the 41st minute for the first of his four shots in the match.

GCU came out of halftime aggressive on offense with two shots in the 52nd minute. Sophomore forward Calvin Kissi put a shot on the bottom right corner of the goal at 51:15, but it was saved by CBU's goalkeeper. Day recorded another shot for the Lopes 42 seconds later, but it cleared the top of the goal.

Senior midfielder Marlon Atondo took another shot for the Lopes in the 55th minute, which went out to the top right, before Day recorded his third shot at 55:26, going out on the top right again. Rasmussen recorded the first of his three shots in the match at 62:40, missing to the right.

The Lopes had an opportunity with a corner kick in the 74th minute. Senior midfielder Pambos Aristotelous sent the ball to Easley, who headed it right of the goal. Easley, a defender, made another shot in the 84th minute, putting it on goal to the bottom left of the goal. CBU made the save to leave the match scoreless. Day recorded his third shot in the 86th minute, but it was off target and the match was sent to overtime.

GCU got an early corner kick in the first overtime at 90:07 but was unable to capitalize. Rasmussen had the Lopes' only shot of the first overtime at 95:33, putting it on goal in the bottom right but it was saved.

Freshman midfielder Will Clark recorded the only shot for the Lopes in the second overtime at 109:26, sending it to the bottom center. The Lancers made the save to finish the scoreless game.

The Lopes continue their road trip at 6 p.m. Sunday at CSU Bakersfield. (Phoenix time).