Kissi goal highlights road loss

Sunday, October 6

Bakersfield, Calif. / Main Soccer Field

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

4-3-2, 1-1-1WAC

CSU Bakersfield

3-6-0, 2-1-0WAC

Grand Canyon

CSU Bakersfield

10/6/2019 8:47:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

GCU sophomore scores season-first goal in 2-1 defeat

By: Cassidy Mace

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Sophomore forward Calvin Kissi scored his first goal of the season to save the Grand Canyon men's soccer team from a shutout on Sunday night.

GCU (4-3-2, 1-1-1 WAC) fell to CSU Bakersfield (3-6, 2-1) in a 2-1 battle at the Roadrunners' home field.

"That was a hard-fought match," Lopes head coach Schellas Hyndman said. "That was a very competitive, very physical match. We came out on the short end, but I also thought we made a couple mistakes that we should be able to get better at. So, this is part of the growth of a player. You win games, and then there are games that you think you could've won but you've just got to continue to improve.

"But I'll tell you, I thought our boys played with so much courage today. It was a hard, physical match that could've gone either way. As I said to them, so many players have come on the field and really impressed me. There are things I haven't seen in the past. And it might have taken a game like this for them to show their nature and their ability to compete."

A physical first half gave CSU Bakersfield the lead at the end of the first 45 minutes, with both teams accumulating eight fouls in the first half. The Lopes took five shots in the first half of the match, putting one on goal.

GCU freshman midfielder Hugo Logan took the first shot of the match for either team in the 12th minute, putting it slightly off goal to the right. CSU Bakersfield responded by scoring the first goal, putting it past sophomore goalkeeper George Tasouris in the 17th minute.

Lopes senior midfielder Pambos Aristotelous took back-to-back shots at 24:01 and 24:45 but was unable to tie the match. Tasouris made his first save of the match in the 40th minute, allowing senior forward Jaime Delor to take a quick shot, which went wide left.

The second half of the game was just as physical, but more productive offensively for the Lopes. GCU took 10 shots with five on goal compared to eight with three on goal for the Roadrunners. Both teams continued accumulating fouls to finish with 15 fouls and three yellow cards apiece in the match.

Tasouris made another save to kick off the second half, stopping CSU Bakersfield from taking a shot in the 50th minute of the match. Delor responded with a shot in the 52nd minute, followed by another shot from sophomore midfielder Marios Andreou in the 58th. Aristotelous made his third shot of the match in the 61st minute, putting it in the bottom right corner before it was saved by the Roadrunners.

CSU Bakersfield extended its lead to two with a goal in the 62nd minute of the match. The Lopes responded with two shots on goal in the 69th and 70th minutes from Delor and Aristotelous. Freshman midfielder Will Clark took his first shot of the match in the 73rd minute, putting it on goal in the bottom center.

Kissi came through with the Lopes' first goal of that match at 74:49, taking a cross from Clark to send the ball into the top right corner of the goal. The goal was the first of the season for Kissi and the first assist of Clark's career.

GCU had more shots from senior defender Julien Armaroli and Delor but was unable to tie the match and fell 2-1.

The Lopes return home to take on San Jose State on Friday for Faith and Family Night. GCU kicks off against the Spartans at 7 p.m. at GCU Stadium.