WAC play starts Sunday at UTRGV

Sunday, October 6

Edinburg, Texas

Noon (Phoenix time)

Grand Canyon

UT Rio Grande Valley

10/5/2024 9:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer

After 13 days off, Lopes head to Edinburg for 1st conference match

By: Nick Macdonald

Sunday, Oct. 6 \| 12 p.m. \| UTRGV Soccer and Track and Field Complex \| Edinburg, Texas

	UT RIO GRANDE VALLEY VAQUEROS (2-4-1, 0-0-0)	fs.	GRAND CANYON LOPES (3-4-2, 0-0-0)

WATCH: ESPN+ \| STATS: Link

AT A GLANCE

After 13 days between games, GCU begins the second half of its season with the start of conference play at UT Rio Grande Valley on Sunday afternoon.
The Lopes are looking to right the ship after dropping each of its last two nonconference contests. GCU is searching for its first victory since Sept. 6 vs. Omaha, but it has played a challenging schedule over its nine nonconference matchups. Entering Sept. 23 versus LMU, the Lopes had the eighth-toughest schedule in the nation and enter Sunday's matchup with the Vaqueros at 16th toughest in the country.
GCU's back line of defense has held opponents to no more than one goal in five straight contests. It has allowed two or more goals only twice this year, last doing so Sept. 2 at Elon. The Lopes rank first in the WAC in goals allowed per game (1.00).
GCU senior goalkeeper Leon Schmidt ranks second in the conference in save percentage (.804) and third in total saves (37). He has stopped five or more shots in four games this year with six games totaling three or more saves. Schmidt has 12 saves over his last four games and has played in every minute of every game, making him one of three WAC goalkeepers to do so.
GCU is second in the WAC in both assists (13) and points (35). The Lopes are averaging 1.35 assists per game, third in the conference as seven players have tallied an assist this season. Sophomore Jorge Lopez leads the team with a career high four.
The Lopes are seeking their first win at UTRGV in program history, compiling a 0-2-2 record in four games in Edinburg. The series has seen plenty of goals over the last three meetings, with GCU owning a 10-5 goal differential since 2021.
GCU junior forward Bright Nutornutsi is second in the league in goals (five) and assists (11). Lopes sophomore midfielder Jorge Lopez is tied for the WAC assists lead with four, while senior Ben Assane trails Lopez by one assist.

SEEKING FIRST WIN IN EDINBURG

The Lopes begin conference play Sunday against UTRGV, a team it has faced eight times in program history. GCU has yet to defeat the Vaqueros in Edinburg,Texas, since the series began in 2015, and is 0-2-2 at UTRGV.
GCU looks to begin WAC play on a positive note on the road, owning a 6-7-2 record away from Phoenix in the WAC since 2021.

BRIGHT SPOT ON OFFENSE

Junior forward Bright Nutornutsi has registered a team-high five goals this season, ranking him second in the WAC. He also enters Sunday second in the league in points (11).
Nutornutsi scored two goals in a 45-second span in the team's season opener at home vs. Western Illinois. He followed that up with two first-half goals 15 minutes apart at Duke, which is receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches Poll.
Nutornutsi scored his fifth first half goal in a 2-0 victory over Omaha, flicking the ball with his left foot to his right and scissor-kicking a line drive toward goal. GCU is 3-0 when scoring two goals in the first half, with all three wins coming when he scores. He also tallied his first assist of the season in the victory over Omaha.
He became the first Lope in the program's D-I era (since 2013) to have four goals in the first two games. Nutornutsi's efforts on the pitch earned him WAC Offensive Player of the Week on Aug. 27 and Sept. 2.

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Lopes stay home for two straight conference games, starting Thursday, Oct. 10, vs. Air Force.
The weekend concludes with an evening contest Sunday, Oct. 13, vs. Utah Valley.