Tuesday, Sept. 13 | 7 p.m. | GCU Stadium | Phoenix, Ariz.
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Oakland
GOLDEN GRIZZLIES
(0-4-1, 0-0-1)
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GRAND CANYON
LOPES
(2-3, 0-0) |
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| WATCH: ESPN+ | STATS: View |
GCU looks to bounce back Tuesday night as it hosts 2021 NCAA tournament team Oakland at 7 p.m.
AT A GLANCE
- The Lopes look to bounce back after a 2-0 defeat last weekend and have evened their record to .500.
- GCU scored in every contest of the season prior to the shutout loss Friday, including scoring three goals at No. 4 UCLA in a 3-2 win Sept. 5.
- Senior forward Shaun Joash leads the squad in points (2 goals, 2 assists) while sophomore goalkeeper Leon Schmidt has seven saves in back-to-back starts.
LAST TIME OUT
- The Lopes fell 2-0 at home versus Santa Clara on Friday in a rainy match that included a two-hour lightning delay prior to kickoff.
- It was the 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.
TOUGH TESTS EARLY
- GCU has been tested early this season, facing off against four 2021 NCAA tournament teams already with its remaining nonconference schedule pitting them against three more 2021 NCAA tournament teams.
- Virginia Tech, Denver and UCLA all advanced to the second round while opponents Oakland, UC Santa Barbara and Santa Clara earned berths into the tournament. Washington, who GCU fell to in the 2020-21 NCAA tournament first round, advanced to the national championship game last season.
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE
- GCU Stadium has become one of the college soccer's toughest places to play, and since the Division I era, the Lopes own a 34-15-4 (.679) all-time record at the venue with a 14-3-1 showing since 2020.
- The Lopes outscored their competition 29-8 last year at home, with four of their nine home victories being shutouts. GCU opened the season with a 1-0 shutout over Virginia Tech, notching shutouts in five of its last 10 home victories.
SCOUTING REPORT
- The Golden Grizzlies are searching for their first win of the season as they enter with an overall record of 0-4-1 and a conference mark of 0-0-1.
- Oakland goalkeepers have combined for 30 saves (15 each), with Michael Slay Jr. recording 15 in his past two games, including 10 versus Butler. He faced 26 shots in that contest.
- Oakland goalies average 6.0 saves per game, ranking in the top 10 nationally.
WHAT'S NEXT?
- GCU heads on the road for a Saturday match Saturday at UC Santa Barbara. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
- Following the road trip, the Lopes return home Saturday, Sept. 24, and host 2021 national runner-up Washington.