Completed Event: Men's Soccer versus SMU on September 4, 2025 , Loss , 0, to, 1
M Soccer
vs SMU
L 0-1
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Saturday, September 28
Phoenix, Ariz.
7 p.m.
Grand Canyon
4-2-1, 1-0-0
1
vs
0
Incarnate Word
3-4-0, 0-1-0
1
2
F
UIW
0
0
0
Grand Canyon
0
1
1
Ball control wins WAC opener
9/28/2019 10:48:00 PM | Men's Soccer, Paul Coro
GCU downs Incarnate Word 1-0 on Andreou's 1st goal
From last season's WAC Tournament championship team to this season's strong-starting team, Grand Canyon men's soccer has relied on its defense for success.
Saturday night's 1-0 victory in the Lopes' conference opener against Incarnate Word might look like a continuation of that but it was the offense's ball domination that had the field of play more lopsided than the score. GCU (4-2-1, 1-0 WAC) has secured its past seven wins by shutout, dating back to not surrendering a goal in last season's WAC Tournament, but it was the offense that controlled Saturday's win in front of 2,127 fans at GCU Stadium.
The Lopes defense only needed to face three shots (one on goal) in the match but the tension built as the game stayed scoreless until less than 12 minutes remained. That is when Incarnate Word cracked under GCU's steady pressure, with Lopes sophomore midfielder Marios Andreou scoring his first goal of the season.
Moments before the goal, Incarnate Word tried to clear when GCU senior defender Julien Armaroli kept the Lopes' possession going in the attacking half by winning a header on a airborne 50-50 ball. The Lopes worked the ball to the left side to senior defender Austin Day, who passed to senior midfielder Pambos Aristotelous on a diagonal run. Aristotelous tapped back to Day, who spotted Andreous slipping into the penalty box between two Cardinals defenders. Day zipped a pass that Andreou headed into the left side of the net from 12 yards away.
"As soon I saw him (Day), I went to the box and the ball came to me," said Andreou, one of three GCU starters from Cyprus. "It was perfect timing. I just didn't think. I just scored."
GCU outshot Incarante Word 14-3 for the game with Aristotelous taking a team-high three shots. Ten of those Lopes shots came in the second half as their relentless pressure broke Incarnate Word (3-4, 0-1 WAC). The Lopes were left needing a second-half goal after a scoreless first half was capped with Cardinals goalkeeper Carlos Mercado stopping GCU junior forward Clement Vannier's penalty kick in the 44th minute.
Day just had set up two GCU chances with a steal on one play and a centering pass on another before the breakthrough came at 78:41.
"Pambos made the run across so the defender dropped off and gave me the space to cut in," Day said. "I saw Marios and whipped it into him and he did the rest. I knew he had it. He scores those in practice all the time."
It was Day's first assist of the season and he nearly added his first goal too with fancy footwork in the 87th minute. Day fooled defenders with behind-the-leg and crossover cuts before firing a shot off the left post.
"That was one of his better games that I've seen him play," GCU head coach Schellas Hyndman said. "He was really penetrating with his dribbles, his passes and he was unlucky at the end when he did everything but hit the post."
The GCU defense was not tested often but sophomore goalkeeper George Tasouris was assertive when he needed to be on balls in the air to record his 13th shutout in 26 career starts. When Incarnate Word countered for an occasional breakaway, sophomore defender Esai Easley often was the one to break it up with one-on-on play.
"The offense was pressing and working hard so they were forcing them (the Cardinals) to go for long balls," Hyndman said. "Those are easier for our defenders to anticipate and win. Our defense is just solid, starting with the keeper and moving forward."
GCU remained undefeated at home, where it entered the game ranked fourth in the nation for average home attendance. The Lopes continue WAC play at California Baptist on Thursday and at CSU Bakersfield on Oct. 6.
"This was a great way to start the conference off," Day said. "I couldn't be happier."
Saturday night's 1-0 victory in the Lopes' conference opener against Incarnate Word might look like a continuation of that but it was the offense's ball domination that had the field of play more lopsided than the score. GCU (4-2-1, 1-0 WAC) has secured its past seven wins by shutout, dating back to not surrendering a goal in last season's WAC Tournament, but it was the offense that controlled Saturday's win in front of 2,127 fans at GCU Stadium.
The Lopes defense only needed to face three shots (one on goal) in the match but the tension built as the game stayed scoreless until less than 12 minutes remained. That is when Incarnate Word cracked under GCU's steady pressure, with Lopes sophomore midfielder Marios Andreou scoring his first goal of the season.
Moments before the goal, Incarnate Word tried to clear when GCU senior defender Julien Armaroli kept the Lopes' possession going in the attacking half by winning a header on a airborne 50-50 ball. The Lopes worked the ball to the left side to senior defender Austin Day, who passed to senior midfielder Pambos Aristotelous on a diagonal run. Aristotelous tapped back to Day, who spotted Andreous slipping into the penalty box between two Cardinals defenders. Day zipped a pass that Andreou headed into the left side of the net from 12 yards away.
"As soon I saw him (Day), I went to the box and the ball came to me," said Andreou, one of three GCU starters from Cyprus. "It was perfect timing. I just didn't think. I just scored."
GCU outshot Incarante Word 14-3 for the game with Aristotelous taking a team-high three shots. Ten of those Lopes shots came in the second half as their relentless pressure broke Incarnate Word (3-4, 0-1 WAC). The Lopes were left needing a second-half goal after a scoreless first half was capped with Cardinals goalkeeper Carlos Mercado stopping GCU junior forward Clement Vannier's penalty kick in the 44th minute.
Day just had set up two GCU chances with a steal on one play and a centering pass on another before the breakthrough came at 78:41.
"Pambos made the run across so the defender dropped off and gave me the space to cut in," Day said. "I saw Marios and whipped it into him and he did the rest. I knew he had it. He scores those in practice all the time."
It was Day's first assist of the season and he nearly added his first goal too with fancy footwork in the 87th minute. Day fooled defenders with behind-the-leg and crossover cuts before firing a shot off the left post.
"That was one of his better games that I've seen him play," GCU head coach Schellas Hyndman said. "He was really penetrating with his dribbles, his passes and he was unlucky at the end when he did everything but hit the post."
The GCU defense was not tested often but sophomore goalkeeper George Tasouris was assertive when he needed to be on balls in the air to record his 13th shutout in 26 career starts. When Incarnate Word countered for an occasional breakaway, sophomore defender Esai Easley often was the one to break it up with one-on-on play.
"The offense was pressing and working hard so they were forcing them (the Cardinals) to go for long balls," Hyndman said. "Those are easier for our defenders to anticipate and win. Our defense is just solid, starting with the keeper and moving forward."
GCU remained undefeated at home, where it entered the game ranked fourth in the nation for average home attendance. The Lopes continue WAC play at California Baptist on Thursday and at CSU Bakersfield on Oct. 6.
"This was a great way to start the conference off," Day said. "I couldn't be happier."
ÂGOAL! Marios Andreou puts the first point on the board for GCU. #LopesUp
— GCU Men's Soccer (@GCU_MSoccer) September 29, 2019
GCU 1, UIW 0 pic.twitter.com/ZYdAjobksP
Team Stats
UIW
GCU
Goals
0
1
Shots
3
14
Shots on Goal
1
4
Saves
3
1
Corners
1
7
Fouls
6
13
Scoring Plays
Marios Andreou (1)
Assisted By: Pambos Aristotelous , Austin Day
GOAL by GCU Andreou, Marios Assist by Aristotelous, Pambos and Day, Austin.
78:41
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
3
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
def
Shots
2
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
fwd
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
M
/ Men's SoccerM
/ Men's Soccer
D
/ Men's SoccerD
/ Men's Soccer
M/D
/ Men's Soccer
GK
/ Men's Soccer
F
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