Shutout clinches WAC Tournament spot

Sunday, October 30

Phoenix, Ariz.

1 p.m.

Grand Canyon

7-6-3, 4-2-2

San Jose State

8-5-3, 4-2-2

San Jose St.

Grand Canyon

10/30/2022 3:56:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

Weller’s 1st-half goal, Schmidt’s 5 saves aid Lopes to win vs. Spartans

By: Nick Macdonald

The Grand Canyon men's soccer team clinched a WAC Tournament spot Sunday be shutting out San Jose State 1-0 at GCU Stadium.

The Lopes moved into a tie for third place with San Jose State at 14 points apiece in the conference standings. The victory secured GCU's spot in the upcoming WAC Tournament in Riverside, California, in two weeks.

Next weekend's regular-season finale at home versus Air Force has multiple implications on seeding. The Lopes can earn as high as a No. 2 seed or as low as a No. 6 seed in the six-team tournament. A GCU win against the Falcons and a Seattle U loss or tie at San Jose State next weekend would give the Lopes a first-round bye.

GCU (7-6-3, 4-2-2 WAC) started primarily on its defensive half in the first 10 minutes of Sunday's game, clearing out potential chances and saving shots courtesy of sophomore goalkeeper Leon Schmidt, who tallied five on the day.

The Lopes scored the lone goal of the contest in the 41st minute, when it went end to end to find senior forward Cameron Weller for the goal. Senior forward Shaun Joash led freshman midfielder Bright Nutornutsi down the left sideline, who then sent a ball toward Weller inside the box. Weller used his left foot to take the shot off the bounce pass and found the bottom left corner for the goal.

The Lopes strike first‼️

Joash finds Nutornutsi who sends it in to Cameron Weller for the goal! ⚽️

GCU 1, San Jose State 0#LopesUp pic.twitter.com/jfylhwU0ic
— GCU Men's Soccer (@GCU_MSoccer) October 30, 2022

The assist was his sixth of the season for Joash, who tied a single-season assist record for the GCU Division I era. Nutornutsi tallied his fourth assist on the season and has registered one in his last three games played and four of his last five.

GCU recorded only one shot in the second half to finish with six for the contest. The Lopes had three saves in the second half, including two from Schmidt who recorded his third game with five or more saves this season.

There were five yellow cards and in the final 10 minutes of a match with 24 fouls, 15 of which came in the second half.

The Lopes return home one last time this season next Saturday, Nov. 5, to take on Air Force at 7 p.m. The team will honor its nine seniors for Senior Night prior to the match.