Completed Event: Men's Soccer versus CSUN on September 26, 2025 , Win , 2, to, 0
M Soccer
vs CSUN
W 2-0
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Sunday, August 29
Phoenix, Ariz.
7 p.m.
Grand Canyon
2-0-0, 0-0-0
2
vs
1
CSU Bakersfield
0-2-0, 0-0-0
1
2
F
CSU Bakersfield
0
1
1
Grand Canyon
1
1
2
Photo by: Garrett Ohrenberg
Afonso scores both goals in gritty win
8/29/2021 10:54:00 PM | Men's Soccer
No. 22 Lopes move to 2-0 after defeating CSU Bakersfield
The No. 22 Grand Canyon men's soccer team moved to 2-0 after defeating CSU Bakersfield in a tight 2-1 battle Sunday night at GCU Stadium.
Fifth-year midfielder Marco Afonso scored both Lopes' goals and freshman goalkeeper Rafael Guerrero made eight saves in his first collegiate start, holding the Roadrunners to one goal that came on a penalty kick.
"I'm happy with the result," Lopes head coach Leonard Griffin said. "We still have a lot to learn from. Any time you get a man sent off, you have to re-evaluate that. So I'm super disappointed in that incident, but we want to learn from it and move on. We're excited going into Washington and Oregon State 2-0."
Just 23 minutes into the match, GCU fifth-year midfielder Ariel Aguas was issued a red card, requiring the Lopes to play with 10 players for the rest of the match.
The Lopes already had scored their first goal, which was set up by fifth-year midfielder Justin Rasmussen in the 17th minute. He found sophomore forward Maximilian Moeller, who crossed the ball to Afonso for an impressive, left-footed shot from about 40 yards for Afonso's first goal of the 2021 season.
"Maxi played me the ball into space," Afonso said. "I just looked up and I've been told to just take my shots so I put one in. I'm just happy to provide for the team."
In the 58th minute, GCU senior defender Alejandro Fernandez Alcaide sent the ball down the field to Rasmussen, who took the ball toward the goal line and then crossed it back into the middle to find Afonso open for a one-touch strike into the goal.
It was a familiar matchup with CSU Bakersfield, a former WAC member that had beaten GCU in the previous three meetings.
"I've been here for quite a while and we've lost to them before so it's always a good feeling to get revenge," Afonso said. "I'm just happy the new guys have come in and can experience the 2-0 feeling. We experienced the undefeated season last year so we're just trying to strive for better and make less mistakes and more goals."
Guerrero, the Tucson, Arizona native, delivered a great showing in goal for the first appearance of his career. The only goal scored against him came on a penalty kick for a Lopes foul in the penalty box.
"I'm just so grateful for the opportunity," Guerrero said. "At the end of the day, it's about having fun. Unfortunate red card, unfortunate PK, but the team fought so well and to have eight saves is just an extra. The win is all that matters. I had so much fun. The boys are buzzin'. I just love being out here."
"Rising to the occasion," GCU goalkeeper coach Alex Rangel said about Guerrero in his first start. "He was obviously looking for an opportunity to play and really showed how all the hard work is paying off. I'm super proud of him, but this is just one step of many. I'm excited for him to grow and see how the team develops this year and really just winning the last game of the season is definitely the biggest goal."
Up next, the Lopes hit the road for a tough test against two top-25 opponents — No. 9 Washington and No. 16 Oregon State.
Fifth-year midfielder Marco Afonso scored both Lopes' goals and freshman goalkeeper Rafael Guerrero made eight saves in his first collegiate start, holding the Roadrunners to one goal that came on a penalty kick.
"I'm happy with the result," Lopes head coach Leonard Griffin said. "We still have a lot to learn from. Any time you get a man sent off, you have to re-evaluate that. So I'm super disappointed in that incident, but we want to learn from it and move on. We're excited going into Washington and Oregon State 2-0."
Just 23 minutes into the match, GCU fifth-year midfielder Ariel Aguas was issued a red card, requiring the Lopes to play with 10 players for the rest of the match.
The Lopes already had scored their first goal, which was set up by fifth-year midfielder Justin Rasmussen in the 17th minute. He found sophomore forward Maximilian Moeller, who crossed the ball to Afonso for an impressive, left-footed shot from about 40 yards for Afonso's first goal of the 2021 season.
17'| GOOOAALL MARCO AFONSO!! 👏
— GCU Men's Soccer (@GCU_MSoccer) August 30, 2021
GCU 1, CSUB 0#LopesUp pic.twitter.com/Uv5BzyU7gC
"Maxi played me the ball into space," Afonso said. "I just looked up and I've been told to just take my shots so I put one in. I'm just happy to provide for the team."
In the 58th minute, GCU senior defender Alejandro Fernandez Alcaide sent the ball down the field to Rasmussen, who took the ball toward the goal line and then crossed it back into the middle to find Afonso open for a one-touch strike into the goal.
It was a familiar matchup with CSU Bakersfield, a former WAC member that had beaten GCU in the previous three meetings.
"I've been here for quite a while and we've lost to them before so it's always a good feeling to get revenge," Afonso said. "I'm just happy the new guys have come in and can experience the 2-0 feeling. We experienced the undefeated season last year so we're just trying to strive for better and make less mistakes and more goals."
Guerrero, the Tucson, Arizona native, delivered a great showing in goal for the first appearance of his career. The only goal scored against him came on a penalty kick for a Lopes foul in the penalty box.
"I'm just so grateful for the opportunity," Guerrero said. "At the end of the day, it's about having fun. Unfortunate red card, unfortunate PK, but the team fought so well and to have eight saves is just an extra. The win is all that matters. I had so much fun. The boys are buzzin'. I just love being out here."
"Rising to the occasion," GCU goalkeeper coach Alex Rangel said about Guerrero in his first start. "He was obviously looking for an opportunity to play and really showed how all the hard work is paying off. I'm super proud of him, but this is just one step of many. I'm excited for him to grow and see how the team develops this year and really just winning the last game of the season is definitely the biggest goal."
Up next, the Lopes hit the road for a tough test against two top-25 opponents — No. 9 Washington and No. 16 Oregon State.
Team Stats
CSB
GCU
Goals
1
2
Shots
21
9
Shots on Goal
9
4
Saves
2
8
Corners
4
2
Fouls
12
15
Scoring Plays
Marco Afonso (2)
Assisted By: Justin Rasmussen , Maximilian Moeller
GOAL by GCU Afonso, Marco Assist by Rasmussen, Justin and Moeller, Maximilian.
17:12
Marco Afonso (2)
Assisted By: Alejandro Fernandez Alcaide , Justin Rasmussen
GOAL by GCU Afonso, Marco Assist by Fernandez Alcaide, Alejandro and Rasmussen, Justin.
57:27
Carlos Armendariz (1)
CSB Carlos Armendariz PENALTY KICK GOAL.
62:35
Game Leaders
Shots
3
SOG
2
Goals
2
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
2
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Players Mentioned
F/M
/ Men's Soccer
D/M
/ Men's SoccerD
/ Men's Soccer
GK
/ Men's SoccerF
/ Men's SoccerM
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