Lopes play to hard-fought draw at No. 2 SMU

Wednesday, September 27

Dallas, Texas

5 p.m. (Phoenix time)

Grand Canyon

5-3-1, 0-0-0

SMU

7-1-1, 2-0-0

Grand Canyon

SMU

9/27/2023 8:52:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score

GCU extends unbeaten streak to five games

By: Nick Macdonald

DALLAS, Texas – Fresh off a four-game home stand that included four straight wins with three shutouts, Grand Canyon endured its first road trip since Sept. 4 at Omaha. It's opponent? The number two team in the country Southern Methodist. The result? A 1-1, hard fought draw to extend its unbeaten streak to five games.

In front of 800 fans in the new Washburne Stadium in the heart of campus at SMU, GCU went toe to toe against the Mustangs, who entered the match with a five-game winning streak of their own. SMU had outscored its opposition 12-2 at home and held a 6-0 at home before Wednesday night's match.

"It was a gritty performance from our guys against a well-coached and very talented team," said head coach Mike Kraus. "I'm very proud of our group's effort and fight until the end. Hopefully we can continue to carry this momentum into conference play."

GCU struck first in the 13th minute via freshman forward Solo Bidanessy, whose goal was the first of his collegiate career. Sophomore Bright Nutornutsi found Bidanessy atop the 18-yard box toward the upper left corner. The Frenchman gathered the ball and powered a left foot strike low to the ground on net. The ball snuck inside the left post off a couple of bounces to put the Lopes ahead, 1-0. It was only the second time all season SMU let up the first goal of the season, dating back to its match at Denver Sept. 1.

A replay of Solo's first half and first career goal ⚽️🎥#LopesUp pic.twitter.com/5nxBmsH54Q
— GCU Men's Soccer (@GCU_MSoccer) September 28, 2023

The shot by Bidanessy was the only one recorded shot by the Lopes in the first half, with goalkeeper Leon Schmidt registering three saves to keep it 1-0 at the break.

Bidanessy nearly made it a two-goal game in the 54th minute with a volley attempt off a corner kick. Junior Clayton Duarte sent a corner toward the far post, to which Bidanessy played it off the hop and connected with the ball in the air toward goal. SMU defenders blocked it off the goal line for a team save as the Lopes challenged the Mustang back line early in the second half.

Minutes later, SMU had three shots in a two-minute span, one of which was saved by Schmidt as both teams were vying for a crucial goal. SMU did break through in the 80th minute off the foot of Jelldrick Dallman, making it a 1-1 match with 10 minutes to play.

Schmidt had a critical save in the 88th minute, stopping a would-be goal by Dallman in center net, and fell on the ball to ensure the attack was no more. The game ended in a draw, the first of the season for both the Lopes and Mustangs.

Schmidt ended the night with five saves, his seventh game with five or more saves this season. Nutornutsi's assist extended his streak of five games with at least a point. The forward has six goals and four assists this season for 16 points, tied for ninth nationally after Wednesday night.

GCU will return to Phoenix before heading back on the road Saturday for the start of conference play against California Baptist Sunday evening. It returns home after the trip to Riverside for two straight home games, the first against nationally ranked Seattle U Oct. 5.