Schmidt's record-setting night paves way to 1-0 win

Sunday, October 13

Phoenix, Ariz.

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

5-5-2, 2-1-0

Utah Valley

5-5-3, 0-3-1

Utah Valley

Grand Canyon

Photo by: Jayden Todd/GCU

10/13/2024 10:28:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

Senior goalie moves into 1st in program's D-I history for career saves

By: Nick Macdonald

On a night with career records broken and career firsts set, Grand Canyon showcased why it is one of the best defensive teams in the country Sunday at GCU Stadium, earning a 1-0 home conference victory over Utah Valley.

Highlights

Senior goalkeeper Leon Schmidt moved into first place in the program's D-I record book for career saves. Needing six to break the two-way tie set by Kendyl Day and George Tasouris, Schmidt tallied seven saves – all in the second half – to stand alone for saves during the Division I era (est. 2013).
Freshman Serigne Babacar Diallo scored his first career goal with a header inside the box off a pass from sophomore Jorge Lopez. The 74th-minute goal proved to be the game winner.
The shutout was the fourth of the season for the Lopes and second in three games.

GCU (5-5-2. 2-1 WAC) has six games left on its regular-season schedule with two remaining at home.

First-half action saw more fouls than any other statistic, with 12 coming from the teams combined. Utah Valley posted the only shot in the first half in the second minute of action, with the remaining 43 minutes being a defensive battle played outside the boxes.

The shift in gameplay in the second half was immediate, with Schmidt making two stops within the first eight minutes to keep the game level at 0-0. Freshman midfielder Damon Rouse registered GCU's first shot attempt in the 57th minute, when it was blocked away by a Wolverine defender.

Schmidt's save total stacked to four after 20 minutes of second-half play, as Utah Valley's offense began firing on all cylinders. Junior forward Bright Nutornutsi nearly gave GCU the lead in the 70th minute, taking a throw-in pass and firing a rocket of a shot toward net, but it was saved by Wolverine goalkeeper Ben Williams.

Babacar Diallo, who made his third career start on the back line, came in on a corner attempt from Lopez in the 74th minute. Lopez's pass went left to right toward the center of the box near the 6-yard line and found Babacar Diallo, who sent a header toward the left post and past an outstretched Williams.

GCU's defense and the gloves of Schmidt made three saves in the final 10 minutes to help seal the shutout. Schmidt's sixth save of the night was the record breaker, while his seventh may have been the best with a full-on diving effort to his right that stopped a would-be tying goal.

The Lopes finished with five shots, compared to 12 by Utah Valley (5-5-3, 0-3-1 WAC).

GCU is back in action Thursday at Utah Tech. Start time is set for 6 p.m. (Phoenix time).