Upcoming Event: Men's Soccer versus UNLV on September 26, 2026 at TBA
M Soccer
TBA
vs UNLV
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Friday, September 30
St. George, Utah
6:30 p.m.
Grand Canyon
at
Utah Tech
Photo by: Rachel Sollazzo
WAC play opens this weekend at Utah Tech, UNLV
9/29/2022 10:22:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Lopes begin defense of back-to-back WAC regular-season titles
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| Grand Canyon Lopes (3-4-1, 0-0) |
at | Utah Tech Trailblazers (2-6, 0-0) |
UNLV Rebels (1-3-4, 0-0) |
| Friday, Sept. 30 7:30 p.m. |
Sunday, Oct. 2 7:30 p.m. |
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| Game Notes | Watch Live Stats |
Watch Live Stats |
AT A GLANCE
- The Lopes enter conference play with a 3-4-1 record after playing a tough nonconference schedule that featured seven 2021 NCAA tournament teams.
- GCU looks to defend its WAC regular-season title as it finished 9-2 in conference action last season. The Lopes are 16-2 in WAC play since 2020.
- GCU is 1-1-1 on the road this year with a win at No. 4 UCLA and a draw at No. 18 UC Santa Barbara.
- Senior forward Shaun Joash leads the team with nine points off three goals and three assists.
LOPES BEGIN CONFERENCE PLAY
- GCU begins its nine-game conference slate Friday evening at Utah Tech. The Lopes play five conference games on the road and four at home.
- The Lopes have won back-to-back WAC regular-season titles and hold a 16-2 conference record since 2020. GCU has outscored Utah Tech and UNLV by a combined 12-3 margin in the past two seasons.
- GCU was picked to finish second in the WAC in the conference's preseason poll announced in August.
JOASH AMONG WAC CATEGORY LEADERS
- Joash, the WAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, enters conference play in the top five in multiple categories in the WAC.
- He is third in points per game (1.12), fourth in assists (3), goals (3) and points (9) and fifth in assists per game (0.38).
SCHMIDT WITH THE STOPS
- Sophomore goalkeeper Leon Schmidt has racked up the saves in his first year at GCU, totaling 18 saves in four starts with a 4.5 saves per game mark, which ranks second in the WAC.
- Schmidt made his first GCU start on the road at No. 4 UCLA on Sept. 5, stopping five shots in a 3-2 upset victory. He earned a 2-1 victory in goal over Oakland on Sept. 13, making four saves before a seven-save performance at home versus No. 2 Washington. His seven-save effort is tied for fifth for most saves in a match this season among WAC goalies.
SCOUTING REPORT
- Utah Tech enters Friday with a 2-6 record. It is 2-3 over its last five games with wins over CSU Bakersfield and Gonzaga.
- The Trailblazers are searching for their first home win, having played only two of their eight games in St. George.
- UNLV enters the weekend with a 1-3-4 record and will face Air Force at home on Friday night.
- The Rebels are 1-0-2 in its past three games with back-to-back ties against Sacramento State and San Diego.
- UNLV opened the season with back-to-back 0-0 ties against No. 22 Santa Clara and No. 24 Loyola Marymount.
WHAT'S NEXT?
- GCU returns home and hosts Utah Valley on Friday, Oct. 7, and California Baptist on Sunday, Oct. 9.
- Friday's match features Family Weekend at GCU Stadium while Sunday is Alhambra Elementary School District Night.
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Soccer
GK
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