GCU, UNLV play to 0-0 draw in Las Vegas

Sunday, October 20

Las Vegas, Nev.

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

5-6-3, 2-2-1

UNLV

4-6-4, 1-1-4

Grand Canyon

UNLV

Photo by: Andy Mead

10/20/2024 8:46:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

Schmidt records 4 saves, earns 5th shutout of season

By: Nick Macdonald

LAS VEGAS – Grand Canyon's defense entered Sunday evening first in the WAC in goals against average, and the Lopes kept limiting opposing offenses from finding the back of the net with a 0-0 tie at UNLV to gain a point in the WAC standings.

Highlights

GCU earned its fifth shutout of the season with senior goalkeeper Leon Schmidt stopping four shots. In five conference games this season, Schmidt has 20 saves with 57 on the season.
The defense held the Rebels to six shots, tied for the lowest opponent shot total of the season. It is the third time in five conference games that the Lopes limited its opposition to a single-digit shot total.

GCU (5-6-3, 2-2-1 WAC) is in a three-way tie UNLV and California Baptist for fifth place with seven conference points and four regular-season games remaining. The teams finishing the regular season in the WAC's top six will advance to the WAC Tournament at GCU.

"I was really pleased with the performance from our guys," Lopes head coach George Kiefer said. "I thought we grew into the game very well and came close on a few chances in the second half. The guys' organization and discipline to get our fifth shutout of the year shows great growth."

The game went 16 minutes without a shot before GCU junior forward Bright Nutornutsi put a shot on frame in the 17th, firing from the top left of the 18-yard box. UNLV (4-6-4, 1-1-4 WAC) had the shot saved by goalkeeper Hugo Lemos, who made three saves in the match.

Schmidt tallied his first and second save of the evening in quick fashion in the 35th minute, stopping a shot in the middle of the box and swatting away a header attempt a minute later. GCU's offense had back-to-back chances near the end of the first half as junior Erick Monge's header off a set piece was saved, and freshman Xande Santo followed with a header via a cross but it went right of the post.

Both goalies accounted for two saves while GCU had three shots through the first 45 minutes.

Lopes sophomore midfielder Jorge Lopez jump-started the offense early in the second frame with a hard-hitting ball from 20 yards out, but it was saved by Lemos. It was the third shot on goal through 52 minutes for GCU.

The Lopes' defense limited UNLV to two shots for the entire second half. GCU thwarted any danger in the 77th minute, when freshman defender Viggo Gustavsson cleared a through ball toward the sideline, and Schmidt made a one-handed grab off a cross attempt.

GCU finished the game with eight shots, five of which came between Nutornutsi and Lopez.

The Lopes play their final regular-season home games Thursday night against California Baptist and next Sunday against San Diego State. Both matches will start at 7 p.m. at GCU Stadium.