GCU heads to Air Force for crucial Thursday contest

Thursday, October 26

USAF Academy, Colo.

3 p.m. (Phoenix time)

Grand Canyon

Air Force

GCU beats UNLV 1-0 in their match at GCU Stadium.

Photo by: Jack Gilday Photography

10/25/2023 1:37:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Live Stats Watch

WAC point implications at stake for GCU, which is 7th in standings

By: Nick Macdonald

Thursday, Oct. 26 \| 3 p.m. (Phoenix time) \| Cadet Soccer Stadium \| U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.

	AIR FORCE FALCONS (0-13-2, 0-5-1 WAC)	vs.	GRAND CANYON LOPES (7-6-2, 2-3-1 WAC)

WATCH: WAC International \| STATS: Link

AT A GLANCE

Grand Canyon heads into the last week of the regular season with two road contests, starting Thursday at Air Force.
GCU is seventh in the WAC standings, with the top six teams earning a spot in the WAC Tournament in Las Vegas on Nov. 5. The Lopes trail Utah Valley by one point for the sixth and final spot and face the Wolverines in the regular-season finale on Monday.
Lopes sophomore forward Bright Nutornutsi has been one of the top offensive players in the country this season, ranking 22nd in points (22), 24th in goals (nine), 33rd in points per game (1.5) and 36th in goals per game (0.6). The Lopes thrive off of Nutornutsi's goal scoring, owning a 6-1-1 record when the forward scores. He is also 11th in the country (first in the WAC) with a .594 shot-on-goal percentage.
GCU junior Leon Schmidt ranks among the best in the country in goal, ranking ninth in saves (68), 18th in save percentage (.800) and 21st in saves per game (4.5). Schmidt has 10 games with four or more saves and has allowed only three goals in his last four WAC games.
The Lopes ranks second in the WAC in assists per game (1.5) and assists (23). Ten players have tallied an assist this season for GCU, with sophomore Cameron Cruz leading the way with five, the fourth most in the conference.
The Lopes' offense has been aggressive the past two games, totaling 37 shots and 12 shots on goal, the most combined in a two-game stretch this season. GCU has outshot its opponent in each of the last four games and did so only once prior this season (Sept. 20 vs. Houston Christian).
The GCU defense is tied for third-fewest goals allowed in WAC play (seven). For the season, the Lopes are also tied for third among conference teams with fewest goals allowed with 18.

TWO GAMES LEFT IN WAC PLAY

The Lopes enter the week with two games left in the regular season and in seventh place in the WAC standings with seven points.
GCU is one point behind Utah Valley, which it plays on the road in Monday's regular-season finale.
With multiple scenarios on the table, GCU does control its own destiny. Two wins to end the season puts the Lopes into the WAC Tournament and, with other teams winning or losing in their favor, they could earn as high as a No. 3 seed or as low as a No. 6 seed.

WHAT'S NEXT?

GCU closes out its regular season on Monday at Utah Valley.
Both teams are playing for WAC Tournament seeding implications. The WAC Tournament begins Nov. 5 in Las Vegas at UNLV.