Full house sees full-throttle defense in win

Friday, September 10

Phoenix, Ariz.

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

4-1-0, 0-0-0

Saint Mary's

3-2-0, 0-0-0

Saint Mary's (CA)

Grand Canyon

9/10/2021 11:05:00 PM | Men's Soccer, Paul Coro

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In front of 5,018 fans, GCU follows Oregon State shutout by blanking Saint Mary's

By: Paul Coro

The best defense can be a good offense and Grand Canyon's Esai Easley was responsible for both Friday night.

In front of the nation's season-high crowd of 5,018 fans at GCU Stadium, the Lopes completed one of their best back-to-back shutout sets in program history when Easley, a senior defender, scored a rare goal that was the difference in a 1-0 victory against Saint Mary's.

Easley's first goal since his 2018 freshman season was the game's lone goal, but the work done by him and the Lopes defense was the true difference. Four nights after GCU blanked No. 22 Oregon State 1-0 on the road, the Lopes (4-1) delivered another shutout in a Los Lopes Night packed stadium and against a Gaels program with the nation's best record over the three previous seasons.

"The atmosphere was insane," Easley said. "Since I've been here, it was one of the best games honestly for atmosphere and support. I could hear every one of the Havocs cheering me on. It was so amazing. Tiring, but amazing."

Easley logged all 90 minutes in triple-digit heat, as did senior midfielder Marios Andreou in his 50th career start and fellow senior defender Alejandro Fernandez Alcaide. With more stellar back-line play from junior defender Rodolfo Prado and fifth-year defender Ariel Aguas, GCU limited Saint Mary's threats from their set pieces and athletic wings.

"I couldn't be prouder of the group," said Lopes head coach Leonard Griffin, who wore a Havocs jersey on the sideline Friday night. "That type of grit is what it's going to take for us to continue to push and get results in conference. Those guys did a tremendous job dealing with a lot of balls in the air and protecting the space behind."

Saint Mary's played from behind for the first time this season, as GCU led for the final 74 minutes once Easley scored. The goal-scoring play began with fifth-year forward Marco Afonso controlling the ball at the top right of the 18-yard box. He crossed the ball into the goal area, where junior forward Shaun-Chris Joash snuck in front of a Saint Mary's defender to get a touch on the ball.

The carom went left to Easley, who used his left foot to park the ball into the net's left side.

Esai Easley

"It was just right place at the right time," Easley said. "It was really important to score early because they're the type of team that doesn't stop working. Saint Mary's is known for their work ethic so getting one in, competing with them and keeping it level is what decided the game."

The GCU defense put out plenty of fires in front of freshman goalkeeper Rafael Guerrero to give the Lopes a 12-5 advantage in shots, but it took some of Guerrero's finest work yet to preserve the shutout.

In the 31st minute, Saint Mary's fired its best shot when a cross went to the goal area's doorstep to give charging Jack Vestberg a point-blank, one-on-one chance against Guerrero.

"A goal in a defender's eyes," Easley said. "That was bigtime from Rafa."

The Tucson native deflected Vestberg's shot away and came up with another clutch scoop save in the 85th minute.

This was Guerrero's fourth collegiate game, but it was more nerveracking than his debut once he saw the stadium, the Havocs platform and the grass berms behind the goals were full as he headed out of the tunnel. In his third and fourth games, he has been in goal for shutouts of teams that were ranked in the top 25 this season.

"This is my first time playing in front of a crowd … period," Guerrero said. "The Havocs and everybody who came out today made the atmosphere absolutely crazy. It just lifted the entire team up. The mood coming out of the locker room from the first half to the second half was so positive and that's all due to the crowd and the atmosphere they created. I'm just so grateful to be here."

The Lopes, whose only loss of the season came to No. 3 Washington in Seattle, will return to the road next week to play at Cal Poly on Thursday. The 2-1-1 Mustangs also beat Saint Mary's 2-1 last month.

.@esaieasley8 finds the back of the net to put the Lopes on the board first! 🔥🔥🔥

GCU 1, SMC 0#LopesUp // #LosLopes https://t.co/aiYRSDCWaJ pic.twitter.com/e10Lmb2II1
— GCU Men's Soccer (@GCU_MSoccer) September 11, 2021