Lopes fall at San Jose State

Sunday, October 15

San Jose, Calif.

1 p.m. (Phoenix time)

Grand Canyon

6-5-2, 1-2-1

San Jose State

6-5-4, 3-2-1

Grand Canyon

San Jose St.

10/15/2023 3:23:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score

GCU falls 1-0, returns home for 2 straight starting Thursday

By: Nick Macdonald

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Grand Canyon fell 1-0 at San Jose State on Sunday in a conference match at Spartan Soccer Complex.

The Lopes' loss moves them to 6-5-2 overall and 1-2-1 in WAC play. The shutout loss was only the third for GCU this season as it entered Sunday with a goal in 10 of 12 games.

GCU's WAC point total remains at four points, while San Jose State moved to 10 points. With four games remaining, the Lopes are tied for sixth with the top six teams moving on to the WAC Tournament in Las Vegas on Nov. 5.

Shots were limited for both teams for most of the first half as the two squads combined for six shots through the first 45 minutes of play. San Jose State (6-5-4, 3-2-1 WAC) had three of its four first-half shots in the first 25 minutes of play as goalkeeper Leon Schmidt tallied two saves, his second bringing his season total to 60.

The Spartans took a loose ball in its attacking third and scored the lone goal of the game with a minute and 16 seconds left in the first half. The Lopes forced a corner off the ensuing kickoff and had a chance to tie with 39 seconds left, but sophomore defender Uriel Diaz Loza's shot attempt was saved by San Jose State goalkeeper David Sweeney.

GCU was held without a goal in the first half for only the third time this season.

The Lopes matched its first-half shot total two minutes into the second half, recording two shots quickly after the second-half kickoff. GCU registered nine shots for the contest, including seven in the second half.

Its best chance came in the 74th minute, as sophomore forward Zion Long had space down the left side. Long made a cut move to his right and fired a shot on goal but was blocked by a Spartan defender. The ball hit the outside of the post and went out for a GCU corner, but the Lopes couldn't capitalize off the attempt.

The Lopes outshot its opponent for the third time this season but fell for the first time when doing so. GCU had eight corner kicks to the Spartans' six, which was the Lopes third time this season with more corners than their opposition.

GCU returns to Phoenix, where it is 5-0-1 at GCU Stadium and plays host to Utah Tech on Thursday and UNLV next Sunday for its final two regular-season home games this season. Both kickoff times are set for 7 p.m.