GCU falls at Denver

Sunday, August 27

Denver, Colo.

12 p.m. (Phoenix time)

Grand Canyon

0-2-0, 0-0-0

Denver

1-0-1, 0-0-0

Grand Canyon

Denver

8/27/2023 2:37:00 PM | Men's Soccer

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Lopes fall 3-0 in Colorado to 2022 NCAA tourney team

By: Nick Macdonald

DENVER – The Grand Canyon men's soccer team fell 3-0 to Denver at University of Denver Soccer Stadium on Sunday.

GCU falls to 0-2 on the season while Denver, which received votes in the preseason coaches poll, moves to 1-0-1.

The Lopes defense fended off an early attack from Denver and forced three goal kicks in the first four minutes. GCU freshman forward Solo Bidanessy had the first shot toward net as he gathered the ball at the left corner of the 18-yard box and struck a left foot just high of the crossbar. The Lopes had a second chance at goal when freshman midfielder Jorge Lopez found space atop the 18-yard box but sent the shot high.

Denver scored its first goal in the 18th minute off the foot of Oje Ofunrein. The Lopes were outshot 6-3 in the first 45 minutes, with GCU junior goalkeeper Leon Schmidt totaling three saves for the half.

The Pioneers added two goals in the second half in the 57th and 63rd minutes. GCU had numbers inside the box in the 82nd minute and sophomores Juan Contreras and Uriel Diaz Loza put shots on net. Contreras' shot was headed out by a Pioneer defender while Diaz Loza's hit the net right.

Denver outshot GCU 12-9 for the game, while the Lopes held the edge in corner kicks, 5-4. Schmidt ended the afternoon with five saves, while Contreras led the Lopes with three shots.

The Lopes continue their road trip with two games in the state of Nebraska, first facing No. 8 Creighton on Friday at 5:30 p.m. (Phoenix time) before ending the trip at Omaha on Sept. 5 at 5 p.m. (Phoenix time).