Santa Clara takes 2-0 win at GCU

Friday, September 9

Phoenix, Ariz.

7:30 p.m.

Grand Canyon

2-3-0, 0-0-0

Santa Clara

1-2-1, 0-0-0

Santa Clara

Grand Canyon

9/10/2022 12:04:00 AM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

Match delayed 2 hours due to lightning in the area

By: Nick Macdonald

The Grand Canyon men's soccer team fell 2-0 to fellow 2021 NCAA tournament qualifier Santa Clara on Friday night in a rain-filled home contest that consisted of a two-hour lightning delay prior to the match.

GCU (2-3) was held without a shot through the first 18 minutes of play before senior forward Shaun Joash missed one just wide of the net in the 19th minute. Lopes sophomore goalkeeper Leon Schmidt held Santa Clara (1-2-1) in check through the first 45 minutes, earning two saves including an outstretched stop to his right in the 30th minute at GCU Stadium.

The Broncos had four shots to the Lopes' three while GCU had four corner kicks in the first half.

GCU nearly broke the 0-0 tie in the 61st minute when senior forward Alec LaBarge's shot hit the left post and went back into play. Five minutes later, Santa Clara found its first goal in the 66th minute, followed by a second goal three minutes later to take a 2-0 lead with just over 20 minutes left in regulation.

The Lopes could not find an offensive rhythm and tallied only one shot in the final 20 minutes of play.

It marked GCU's first shutout loss in the regular season since Sept. 3, 2021, at Washington. It was also the first two-goal loss of the season and first since the 2-0 defeat to Washington a little over a year ago.

Prior to the match, GCU honored its 2021 WAC regular-season championship team with a ring ceremony. The match was then put into a two-hour lightning delay, with kickoff beginning at approximately 9:30 p.m.

GCU stays at home and hosts Oakland on Tuesday. The start time has been moved up 30 minutes to 7 p.m.