Lopes return home, host Stetson Friday night

Friday, September 8

Phoenix, Ariz.

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Stetson

Photo by: Mark Kuhlmann

9/7/2023 4:10:00 PM | Men's Soccer

GCU is 7-0 in home openers since 2016

By: Nick Macdonald

Friday, Sept. 8 \| 7 p.m. \| GCU Stadium \| Phoenix, Arizona

	STETSON HATTERS (2-1-1)	vs.	GRAND CANYON LOPES (1-3)

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

GCU begins the first of four straight at home Friday night for its home opener against Stetson at 7 p.m.

The Lopes began the season with four straight road games, the most to start a season since 2013 (seven).
Junior goalie Leon Schmidt ranks in the top-10 in both total saves (5th/24 saves) and saves per game (8th/6.00 per game) across the country. Schmidt has at least five saves in each of his outings, including a career-high eight in the Lopes' 2-1 victory at Creighton Sept. 1.
Freshman Jorge Lopez is one of five players in the WAC with two assists this season. Lopez tallied his first assist at Wake Forest and added another at Omaha.
Through the first two games, GCU totaled 14 shots and 3 shots on goal compared to the last two game's played, where it registered 25 shots and 14 shots on goal. The Lopes have a .561 shot on goal percentage in it's last two games.
The Lopes are 34-16-4 since at home since GCU Stadium opened in 2016. GCU has never lost a home opener since the stadium opened.

Junior goalkeeper Leon Schmidt has proved to be a top goalkeeper four games into the season with 24 saves and a 6.00 saves per game mark.
Schmidt has 102 saves for his career, surpassing the 100 save plateau in the first half at Omaha Sept. 4. In 18 career starts for the Lopes, Schmidt has 74 saves and two shutouts to his name. The Hamburg, Germany, native has stopped four + shots in 11 of his 18 games as a Lope and has posted three games with six or more saves, including two this season.

Stetson enters Phoenix with a 2-1-1 overall record with recent shutout wins against University of St. Thomas (7-0) and NC State (2-0).
The Hatters are outscoring their opposition 12-4 and have not allowed a goal since their Aug. 27 match vs. UCF.
Stetson is sixth in the country in points per game (8.50) as well as sixth in scoring offense (3.00). It's 12 goals and 34 points are fifth in the nation.
Xavi Csato leads the offense with two goals and two assists on the season. A total of 12 players have tallied at least a point for the Hatters.

The Lopes return home Tuesday, Sept. 12 and face UC Santa Barbara at 7 p.m.
The game is a rematch of last year's 2-2 draw in California. The Gauchos were receiving votes at the time in the United Soccer Coaches Poll.
Following Tuesday night's home match, GCU stays home and hosts (RV) San Diego Sept. 16 and Houston Christian Sept. 20.