Lopes top Huskies in season opener

Saturday, February 20

Phoenix, Ariz.

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

1-0-0, 1-0-0

Houston Baptist

0-2-1, 0-2-0

Houston Baptist

Grand Canyon

Photo by: Garrett Ohrenberg

2/20/2021 10:37:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

Freshman scored GCU's 1st goal of season in 2-1 win

By: Cassidy Mace

Grand Canyon men's soccer won its season opener Friday night at GCU Stadium, defeating Houston Baptist 2-1 in conference play. The Lopes (1-0, 1-0 WAC) took down the Huskies (0-2-1, 0-2 WAC) in their first official competition since Nov. 9, 2019.

Freshman forward Maximilian Moeller scored GCU's first goal of the season and the first goal of his collegiate career. Senior forward Rey Gaytan also scored the first goal of his career to give the Lopes their 2-1 win.

"It's a really good feeling to be outside again with the boys," Moeller said. "To have our first conference game and to be able to score the first goal, it was perfect."

GCU outshot Houston Baptist 23-9, putting eight shots of its on goal.

The Lopes pushed on offense in the first half of the match, taking three corner kicks in the first six minutes. GCU senior defender Ariel Aguas took two shots off the corners, sending one right and one out top, while junior defender and captain Esai Easley put the Lopes' first shot on goal at 5:28.

Moeller capitalized on the Lopes' aggressive defense to put GCU ahead 1-0 with a goal in the 10th minute of the match. Senior midfielder Justin Rasmussen connected with senior forward Marco Afonso on the right side for the assists. Afonso crossed to Moeller, who finished with a goal in the back-right corner of the net.

Houston Baptist tied it up with a goal in the 17th minute from sophomore forward Bryant Farkarlun.

Gaytan put GCU ahead 2-1 with another goal in the 30th minutes. Rasmussen took a free kick for the Lopes and crossed to Gaytan, who headed the ball to the right side of the goal The shot was deflected by the HBU goalie and Gaytan used the deflected ball to score the first goal of his career in the left bottom corner of the net.

The Lopes took eight more shots in the second half but were unable to add another goal. Junior goalkeeper George Tasouris' only save kept the game from being tied in the 65th minute.

Rasmussen had one more chance to score in the last 40 seconds, but a foul was called before his shot into the top left corner of the net.

GCU returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 27, at San Jose State. The Lopes take on the Trojans at 8 p.m. in their first road match of the season.