GCU, No. 2 Washington set for Saturday showdown

Saturday, September 24

Phoenix, Ariz.

7:30 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Washington

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PHOENIX, AZ -Sep 13, 2022: Grand Canyonâ??s Bright Nutornutsi celebrates his goal in their win over non-conference opponent Oakland, 2-1, Tuesday evening. at GCU Stadium.

9/23/2022 3:01:00 PM | Men's Soccer

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Lopes are 1-0-1 this season against top-25 opponents

By: Nick Macdonald

Saturday, Sept. 24 \| 7:30 p.m. \| GCU Stadium \| Phoenix, Ariz.

	No. 2 Washington HUSKIES (6-0-1, 0-0)	vs.	GRAND CANYON LOPES (3-3-1, 0-0)

WATCH: ESPN+ \| STATS: View

The Grand Canyon men's soccer team concludes nonconference action with its toughest test to date as it hosts No. 2 Washington, last season's national runner-up, on Saturday night at GCU Stadium.

AT A GLANCE

GCU concludes one of its toughest nonconference slates in recent years with its biggest foe yet, No. 2 Washington, at home under the lights Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
The second-ranked Huskies will be the third United Soccer Coaches nationally ranked team that the Lopes have played this season, with Virginia Tech also being in receiving votes upon facing them in the season opener.
After starting the season 1-2, GCU is 2-1-1 in its last four games with wins against No. 4 UCLA and Oakland and a tie at No. 18 UC Santa Barbara.
Senior forward Alec LaBarge leads the team with three goals and is tied for the team lead in points with seven. Senior forward Shaun Joash also has seven points with two goals and three assists.
The Lopes have used a two-goalkeeeper system so far this year, with senior goalie Anthony Muñoz and sophomore Leon Schmidt combining for 23 saves. Muñoz earned the season-opening shutout victory over Virginia Tech, while Schmidt saved five shots in GCU's upset victory at No. 4 UCLA.

LAST TIME OUT

The Lopes battled in Santa Barbara, California, and earned a 2-2 draw with No. 18 UC Santa Barbara on Saturday, Sept. 17.
Junior midfielder Samuel Lossou scored the team's first goal while LaBarge tallied the second. LaBarge also assisted Lossou on his goal with six of his seven points this season coming against nationally ranked teams.
The tie put the Lopes at 6-4-1 against nationally ranked opposition since 2018.

GCU ATOP WAC AHEAD OF CONFERENCE PLAY

GCU enters Saturday's final nonconference game in a tie atop the WAC standings for overall record at 3-3-1. The Lopes, who were chosen to finish second in the WAC in the preseason poll, open conference play next Friday at Utah Tech.
The Lopes rank in the top five in multiple categories in the conference, including goals (second, 10), points (third, 29), goals per game (third, 1.43), points per game (third, 4.14) and assists per game (fourth, 1.29).

LABARGE EXCELS VS. RANKED OPPONENTS

The Lopes are 1-0-1 against ranked competition this season with LaBarge guiding the team with goals and points in those games.
LaBarge recorded his first career brace at No. 4 UCLA in GCU's 3-2 upset victory in early September. The Sumner, Washington, native tallied an assist and a goal in the Lopes' 2-2 draw at No. 18 UC Santa Barbara. He enters Saturday tied for the team lead in points with seven and leads the squad with three goals.

SCOUTING REPORT

Washington enters as the No. 2 team in the nation Saturday, winning all but one match with a tie so far this season.
The Huskies picked up right where they left off in 2021, when it finished 18-2-2 and fell 2-0 to Clemson in the College Cup Final.
The Huskies possess one of the best offenses in the country, ranking fourth in goals per game (3.0), fifth in assists (25), seventh in goals (21) and fifth in points per game (9.6).
Washington's 17-goal differential ranks second in the nation. It has allowed only four goals this season and has earned three shutouts.
Ilijah Paul leads the country in goals with eight and is second in points with 17. Lucas Meeks and Chris Meyers are tied for 20th in assists per game with 0.71 per match.

WHAT'S NEXT?

GCU rests for six days before playing two WAC games in three days on the road.
The trip's first match is Friday at Utah Tech, followed by a game at UNLV on Sunday, Oct. 2.
The Utah Tech visit marks the first WAC match of the season.