Regular-season finale goes against GCU

Saturday, November 6

USAFA, Colo.

12 p.m. (Phoenix time)

Grand Canyon

14-3-0, 9-2-0

Air Force

9-7-1, 8-3-0

Grand Canyon

Air Force

Photo by: Sierra Smith

11/6/2021 4:23:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

No. 17 Lopes drop tough match at Air Force

By: Sierra Smith

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. — The No. 17 Grand Canyon men's soccer team fell to Air Force 2-1 in its regular-season finale at Cadet Soccer Stadium.

Tensions were high in the rematch of the spring's WAC Tournament championship game, as a total of 20 fouls, including three yellow cards, were issued. The loss drops GCU to 14-3 overall and 9-2 in the WAC, where the Lopes clinched the regular-season conference title last week.

Senior midfielder Marios Andreou put GCU in the scoring column first with a header off a free kick byLopes fifth-year midfielder Justin Rasmussen in the 12th minute. It was the first goal of the season for Andreou and the sixth assist for Rasmussen, who entered the night ranked fourth in the WAC for points.

The Falcons (9-7-1, 8-3 WAC) scored the game-tying goal in the 25th minutes and the game remained knotted at 1-1 at halftime.

The shots category was nearly identical, as GCU took 10 shots while Air Force had 11.

Air Force pulled ahead in the 66th minute as WAC points leader Tristan Trager netted his 12th goal of the season.

Despite the tough loss, an incredible showing of GCU alumni showed up at Cadet Soccer Stadium to cheer on the Lopes.

All sights are now set on the WAC Tournament next week, which starts on Wednesday at GCU Stadium.

The Lopes have the No. 1 seed and will play in a Friday semifinal at 4:30 p.m. against the winner of No. 4 seed San Jose State (9-6-3, 7-2-2 WAC) vs. No. 5 seed Utah Valley (9-5-2, 6-4 WAC).