Completed Event: Men's Soccer versus Jacksonville on August 21, 2025 , Win , 2, to, 1
M Soccer
vs Jacksonville
W 2-1
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Thursday, August 24
Winston-Salem, N.C.
4 p.m. (Phoenix time)
Grand Canyon
0-1-0, 0-0-0
1
at
3
Wake Forest
1-0-0, 0-0-0
1
2
F
Grand Canyon
1
0
1
Wake Forest
2
1
3
Photo by: Jaylynn Nash
Lopes drop season opener at No. 18 Wake Forest
8/24/2023 8:31:00 PM | Men's Soccer
GCU takes 1-0 lead, falls 3-1 after near hour-and-a-half weather delay
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Grand Canyon men's soccer team fell 3-1 on Thursday night at No. 18 Wake Forest in its season opener.
The road trip to Spry Stadium was the third longest by mileage from GCU's campus since 2013, with only New Hampshire and Stetson being longer trips by mileage. After nearly 36 hours in North Carolina, the team had to wait a bit longer due to a cell of lightning and thunder that hovered near the Wake Forest campus.
The Lopes defense felt Wake Forest's offensive attack early, as two Demon Deacons put shots on net in the first three minutes. GCU junior goalkeeper Leon Schmidt, who had seven games with four or more saves last season, tallied one of his four first half stops in the third minute.
GCU's offense found a spark shortly after via sophomore forward Bright Nutornutsi in the 11th minute. Nutornutsi gathered the ball in the left corner and soon passed to freshman midfielder Matthew Sacristan, who took it to the right corner. Sacristan gave a leave pass to classmate Jorge Lopez, who sent a cross into the box for Nutornusti, who connected with the back of the net with his left foot for a 1-0 lead.
The goal was Nutornutsi's second of his career while the assist gave Lopez his first collegiate point.
Wake Forest (1-0) quickly answered in the next minute, as Roald Mitchell scored off a pressing attack after the ensuing kickoff. The game remained tied at 1-1 until the 27th minute, when Wake Forest's Babacar Niang broke the tie. GCU's defense saw 17 first-half shots with Schmidt recording two saves in a matter of seconds to keep a one-goal differential.
The Lopes registered four shots through the first 45 minutes, with two corners in the first half credited to Wake Forest.
After 21 combined first-half shots, the second half saw seven with Wake Forest outshooting the Lopes 6-1. The Demon Deacons added their third goal via a penalty kick by Sidney Paris in the 76th minute.
"I am very proud of the effort and performance the guys put forth," GCU head coach Mike Kraus said. "We wanted to test ourselves early in the season against some of the best programs in the country, and I thought tonight for stretches we had them on their heels. Wake Forest is a very well-coached team and proved to be the better team on the night. We had some very good individual performances and need to quickly learn from this to put forth a more complete game for 90 minutes."
Wake Forest outshot GCU 23-5 with the Demon Deacons totaling five corners to the Lopes' three. Schmidt ended the night with five saves, while junior midfielder Innocent Jibril Rodet tallied two shots.
The Lopes next play at Denver (RV) on Sunday at noon (Phoenix time).
The road trip to Spry Stadium was the third longest by mileage from GCU's campus since 2013, with only New Hampshire and Stetson being longer trips by mileage. After nearly 36 hours in North Carolina, the team had to wait a bit longer due to a cell of lightning and thunder that hovered near the Wake Forest campus.
The Lopes defense felt Wake Forest's offensive attack early, as two Demon Deacons put shots on net in the first three minutes. GCU junior goalkeeper Leon Schmidt, who had seven games with four or more saves last season, tallied one of his four first half stops in the third minute.
GCU's offense found a spark shortly after via sophomore forward Bright Nutornutsi in the 11th minute. Nutornutsi gathered the ball in the left corner and soon passed to freshman midfielder Matthew Sacristan, who took it to the right corner. Sacristan gave a leave pass to classmate Jorge Lopez, who sent a cross into the box for Nutornusti, who connected with the back of the net with his left foot for a 1-0 lead.
BRIGHT NUTORNUTSI with the first goal of the season!!#LopesUp pic.twitter.com/NTtlDQMCdj
— GCU Men's Soccer (@GCU_MSoccer) August 25, 2023
The goal was Nutornutsi's second of his career while the assist gave Lopez his first collegiate point.
Wake Forest (1-0) quickly answered in the next minute, as Roald Mitchell scored off a pressing attack after the ensuing kickoff. The game remained tied at 1-1 until the 27th minute, when Wake Forest's Babacar Niang broke the tie. GCU's defense saw 17 first-half shots with Schmidt recording two saves in a matter of seconds to keep a one-goal differential.
The Lopes registered four shots through the first 45 minutes, with two corners in the first half credited to Wake Forest.
After 21 combined first-half shots, the second half saw seven with Wake Forest outshooting the Lopes 6-1. The Demon Deacons added their third goal via a penalty kick by Sidney Paris in the 76th minute.
"I am very proud of the effort and performance the guys put forth," GCU head coach Mike Kraus said. "We wanted to test ourselves early in the season against some of the best programs in the country, and I thought tonight for stretches we had them on their heels. Wake Forest is a very well-coached team and proved to be the better team on the night. We had some very good individual performances and need to quickly learn from this to put forth a more complete game for 90 minutes."
Wake Forest outshot GCU 23-5 with the Demon Deacons totaling five corners to the Lopes' three. Schmidt ended the night with five saves, while junior midfielder Innocent Jibril Rodet tallied two shots.
The Lopes next play at Denver (RV) on Sunday at noon (Phoenix time).
Team Stats
GCU
WFU
Goals
1
3
Shots
5
23
Shots on Goal
1
8
Saves
5
0
Corners
3
5
Fouls
18
14
Scoring Plays
Bright Nutornutsi (1)
Assisted By: Jorge Lopez
GOAL by GCU Nutornutsi, Bright Assist by Lopez, Jorge.
10:48
Roald Mitchell (1)
Assisted By: Hosei Kijima , Sidney Paris
GOAL by WFU Mitchell, Roald Assist by Kijima, Hosei and Paris, Sidney.
12:01
Babacar Niang (1)
Assisted By: Hosei Kijima , Jahlane Forbes
GOAL by WFU Niang, Babacar Assist by Kijima, Hosei and Forbes, Jahlane.
26:21
Sidney Paris
WFU Sidney Paris PENALTY KICK GOAL.
75:37
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
2
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
M
/ Men's SoccerF
/ Men's SoccerM
/ Men's Soccer
M
/ Men's Soccer
GK
/ Men's SoccerKendra Potts Post Match Press Conference | GCU vs NAU 9.7.25
Monday, September 08
"Your Life Arizona" Featuring Vice President of Athletics Jamie Boggs
Friday, September 05
Kaleb Smith | Media Availability | 9.3.25
Thursday, September 04
Dusty Stromer | Media Availability | 9.3.25
Thursday, September 04