Defense stout in rebound win

Friday, October 22

Phoenix, Ariz.

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

UNLV

10/22/2021 9:41:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

Lopes storm back against UNLV, score 2 unanswered goals

By: Jerob Moon

The Grand Canyon men's soccer team kicked off the final homestand of the regular season with a 2-1 win over UNLV on Friday night.

GCU (11-2-0, 6-1-0 WAC) fell down 1-0 early but scored two unanswered goals to regain the lead before halftime as the defense locked down UNLV (6-8-0, 2-5-0 WAC) in the second half.

"It was a gritty performance by our guys," Lopes head coach Leonard Griffin said. "I was proud that they came and competed, and it was a good rebound after last weekend. We always talk about reaction all season long and to get a win today is a positive reaction."

After giving up early goals in last week's loss at San Jose State, the Lopes faced the same problem Friday night as UNLV jumped up 1-0 in the 12th minute. But GCU regrouped and answered back with a goal in the 28th minute by senior fifth-year forward Rey Gaytan.

Gaytan regrouped after the ball took a deflection off a UNLV defender inside the 18-yard box and dribbled past the goalkeeper for an open-net goal to level the score at 1-1. It was Gaytan's third goal in the last four matches.

Tied at 1-1, GCU took the lead for good in the 36th minute on a goal by leading scorer Shaun-Chris Joash.

Joash, a junior forward, took a long pass from defender Alejandro Fernandez Alcaide and raced down the right side. A fancy flick got him past two UNLV defenders and created space for a low, left-footed shot for his sixth goal of the season.

"You never want to go down early because sometimes it's a whole you can't dig out of," Griffin said. "We've dealt with a lot of adversity this season and I'm confident that we have a group that will always fight and stay in games."

With the lead secured, the GCU defense went to work allowing just three UNLV shots all game, including only one shot in the second half in the 85th minute. The Lopes limited UNLV touches in the attacking third of the field as senior goalkeeper Anthony Munoz nearly recorded a shutout.

With the win, the Lopes regain first place in the WAC standings ahead of Air Force ahead entering Sunday's Senior Night against Dixie State. The Lopes will honor seniors with pregame festivities before kicking off against the Trailblazers at 7 p.m.