GCU, Denver set for Sunday night matchup

Sunday, August 28

Phoenix, Ariz.

7:30 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Denver

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Photo by: Garrett Ohrenberg

8/27/2022 12:05:00 PM | Men's Soccer

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Rematch of last year’s NCAA tournament contest returns to Phoenix

By: Nick Macdonald

Sunday, Aug. 28 \| 7:30 p.m. \| GCU Stadium \| Phoenix, Ariz.

	DENVER PIONEERS (1-0)	at	GRAND CANYON LOPES (1-0)

WATCH: ESPN+ \| STATS: View

Grand Canyon hosts Denver for a Sunday night matchup under the lights at GCU Stadium. The contest is a rematch of last year's NCAA tournament first-round game in which Denver prevailed 1-0 in Phoenix on Nov. 18.

AT A GLANCE

Both teams enter 1-0 after Thursday night victories, both of which were on their respective home turfs. The Pioneers defeated Gonzaga 3-1.
After Thursday's victory over Virginia Tech, the Lopes moved to 5-0 in home openers in the past five seasons and extended their overall streak to nine straight home-opening wins.
Senior forward Shaun Joash returns a year after totaling 22 points with nine goals and four assists. Joash was named WAC Preseason Offensive POTY earlier this month.
Senior defender Rodolfo Prado returns a year after earning All-WAC second-team accolades. He and Joash were named to the Preseason All-WAC team.

LAST TIME OUT

GCU posted a 1-0 shutout at home Thursday vs. (RV) Virginia Tech.
Sophomore defender Clayton Duarte scored the Lopes' first goal of the season while senior forward Cameron Weller earned the assist.
Head coach Mike Kraus earned his first victory as a collegiate coach.

MAKING THE STOPS

GCU finished tied for third in the country in save percentage in 2021 with a .808 mark, stopping 82 shots as a team while totaling six shutouts.
Senior goalkeeper Anthony Munoz stopped 49 shots in 14 starts last year, going 10-3-1 between the pipes with two shutouts. The Albuquerque, New Mexico, native saved two shots in a shutout performance Thursday versus (RV) Virginia Tech.

SCOUTING REPORT

Denver opened the season with a 3-1 victory at home versus Gonzaga on Thursday.
The Pioneers went 10-4-5 in 2021 and compiled a 4-1-1 conference record. Denver went 2-0 in the Summit Championship and claimed the tournament title in penalty kicks over Oral Roberts.
Denver was picked to finish first in the Summit League Preseason Coaches' Poll, garnering 62 points and six first-place votes, three ahead of Oral Roberts.
Trevor Wright and Ronan Wynne were selected by the league in its Players to Watch List.

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Lopes hit the road for the first time this season and play the next two games away from Phoenix.
The first road contest is Thursday at CSU Bakersfield, followed by a Monday, Sept. 5, game at UCLA. Both games will start at 7 p.m.
GCU returns home Friday, Sept. 9, vs. Santa Clara with a 7:30 p.m. start time.