Lopes host No. 22 San Diego on Saturday night

Saturday, September 16

Phoenix, Ariz.

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

San Diego

Photo by: David Kadlubowski

9/15/2023 5:24:00 PM | Men's Soccer

GCU looking for 3rd straight home win on Los Lopes Night

By: Nick Macdonald

Saturday, Sept. 16 \| 7 p.m. \| GCU Stadium \| Phoenix, Arizona

	SAN DIEGO TOREROS (5-1-1)	vs.	GRAND CANYON LOPES (3-3)

WATCH: ESPN+ \| STATS: Link \| TICKETS: Link

The Lopes continue their four-game homestand with nationally ranked San Diego visiting GCU Stadium on Saturday night.

Following back-to-back 3-0 shutout victories, GCU stays home and hosts nationally ranked San Diego on Saturday night.
The 3-0 victory over UC Santa Barbara marked the first time in the Division I era (since 2013) that the Lopes scored multiple goals and held an opponent to zero goals in consecutive games.
Sophomore goalkeeper Leon Schmidt was a huge part of the shutouts, stopping 13 shots combined vs. Stetson and UC Santa Barbara. Schmidt enters Saturday ranked third in the country in saves (37) and ninth in saves per game (6.2). He has recorded at least five saves in each of this season's games with two games with seven or more stops.
The offense has outscored its opposition 6-0 during the home stretch and is plus-one for the season (10-9). Sophomore forward Bright Nutornutsi has scored three of the team's six goals in the past two games and ranks ninth in the country in that category. The sophomore has scored in three of his past four games.
GCU ranks first in the WAC in assists per game (1.8) and second in assists (11). The Lopes had four assists in their first four games and have totaled seven in the homestand. Jorge Lopez, Solo Bidanessy and Cameron Cruz each have two on the season.
The Lopes are 36-16-4 since at home since GCU Stadium opened in 2016.

While GCU has had one of the more impressive home records in the past eight seasons since GCU Stadium opened, the Lopes have kept true to home field advantage with back-to-back 3-0 shutouts of Stetson and UC Santa Barbara.
The Lopes totaled 12 points in terms of goals and assists through their first four games on the road. Since returning home, GCU has recorded 19 points with six goals and seven assists, capped off by allowing no goals in 180 minutes of action.
GCU has scored a flurry of goals in both halves as it scored three goals in the first half vs. Stetson last Friday. After a one-hour, 42-minute weather delay vs. UC Santa Barbara on Tuesday, the Lopes scored three goals in the second half, including two goals within 20 seconds by Nutornutsi, to seal the 3-0 victory.

San Diego enters Phoenix ranked No. 22 in the nation with a record of 5-1-1, including a 2-0 mark away from California.
The Toreros are 3-0-1 in their past four games, with wins over Cal Poly, George Washington and California Baptist.
San Diego comes in with a potent offense, as it is second in the nation in points (51), fourth in goals (16) and fifth in assists (15).
Mason Tunbridge is 10th in the country with four assists, while Cesar Bahena and Samy Kanaan each have three goals.
The Toreros have outscored their opposition 16-5 with four shutouts on the season.

The Lopes conclude their four-game homestand on Sept. 20 against Houston Christian at 7 p.m.
GCU goes back on the road for two matches before returning to Phoenix on Oct. 5 for its first home conference game versus Seattle U.