Guerrero injured on match's final play

Saturday, September 25

Phoenix, Ariz.

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

6-1-0, 1-0-0

Seattle U

4-5-0, 0-1-0

Seattle U

Grand Canyon

9/25/2021 10:29:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

GCU freshman goalkeeper hospitalized following shutout performance

By: Paul Coro

Grand Canyon freshman goalkeeper Rafael Guerrero was hospitalized Saturday night after being injured in an on-field collision that concluded a GCU-Seattle U match at GCU Stadium.

Rafael Guerrero Headshot

Guerrero was making a charging save to preserve a 1-0 victory when he was hurt in the 90th minute. The Tucson native was taken by ambulance to a Phoenix hospital and the game was declared a final with 46 seconds remaining.

"The entire GCU community is keeping Rafael and his family in our prayers," GCU Vice President of Athletics Jamie Boggs said.

While Guerrero was being prepared for transport, the crowd of 2,017 fans hushed as GCU and Seattle U players huddled together in prayer on the field. Guerrero had been the Lopes' game hero with a career high-tying eight saves, including spectacular leaps and dives that secured his third shutout in the past four games.

No. 19 GCU (6-1, 1-0 WAC) scored its fourth consecutive win's decisive goal less than three minutes before halftime. Lopes fifth-year midfielder Justin Rasmussen's corner kick set up sophomore midfielder Georg Bjarnason's first career goal, a header that caromed into the net off a Redhawks player.