Lopes fall short in Omaha 2-1

Monday, September 4

Omaha, Neb.

5 p.m. (Phoenix time)

Grand Canyon

1-3-0, 0-0-0

Omaha

1-3-0, 0-0-0

Grand Canyon

Omaha

Photo by: Mark Kuhlmann

9/4/2023 7:29:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score

GCU's Duarte scores for early lead; Schmidt totals 6 saves

By: Nick Macdonald

OMAHA, Neb. – In a game that saw 34 shots, 20 fouls and 13 corner kicks, Grand Canyon fell 2-1 to Omaha at Caniglia Field on Monday evening.

First half

The Mavericks came out firing toward the goal, recording three shots in the game's first three minutes, with two being blocked and one going high of the crossbar. The Lopes' first shot did not come until the ninth minute, the start of three straight GCU shots on goal saved by Omaha keeper Lute Portero.

The Lopes broke up the 0-0 tie in the 29th minute off the foot of junior forward Clayton Duarte, who connected in the upper left corner of the goal off a pass from freshman midfielder Jorge Lopez. The goal was Duarte's first of the season while the assist was Lopez's second. GCU sophomore goalkeeper Leon Schmidt saw another flurry of shots from the Mavericks in the final four minutes of first-half play and tallied three saves to send the match to halftime at 1-0.

Second half

After a shot by sophomore forward Bright Nutornutsi was saved by Portero, Omaha tied the game 1-1 in the 50th minute via Wawa Palga. The Mavericks added their second goal in the 76th minute to lead 2-1 with just under 15 minutes to play. GCU saw one last look at goal in the final minute, when Schmidt went toward the box off a free kick opportunity, but his shot sailed high.

Lopes notes

Schmidt recorded six saves to bring his season total to 24. His fourth save put him at the 100-career save mark. As a Lope, Schmidt has 74 saves in 18 starts.
Lopez registered his second assist of the season. As of Monday night, he is one of four WAC players with two assists on the season.
GCU returns home after a four-game road trip to begin the season. The four straight road games are the most to begin a season since 2013 (seven).

The Lopes host Stetson in their home opener on Friday at 7 p.m. in GCU Stadium.