Lopes, Broncos play to 1-1 draw in Santa Clara

Thursday, September 12

Santa Clara, Calif.

7:30 p.m. (Phoenix time)

Grand Canyon

3-2-1, 0-0-0

Santa Clara

2-2-1, 0-0-0

Grand Canyon

Santa Clara

Photo by: Andy Mead/YCJ

9/12/2024 10:19:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

GCU's Lopez scores 2nd goal of season; Lopes move to 3-2-1

By: Nick Macdonald

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Coming into Thursday night with the sixth-toughest schedule in the country, Grand Canyon began a series of four straight games against opponents ranked in top 80 in last season's final NCAA RPI standings and played to a 1-1 draw at WCC opponent Santa Clara.

News and notes

GCU sophomore midfielder Jorge Lopez scored his second goal of the season, bringing his season point total to eight, second highest on the team. It was his second goal in the first half of a road game this season.
Lopes senior goalkeeper Leon Schmidt made five saves for his fourth game of five or more saves this season. Schmidt now has 20 saves in his last three outings.
The Santa Clara contest was the first of three WCC teams the Lopes will face over the next four contests. GCU is 1-0-1 against WCC competition since last season.

"I'm very pleased with the growth we've shown on the road," GCU head coach George Kiefer said. "I definitely thought the last 10 minutes were heading our way, coming close on some really good looks, but we stay disciplined and kept our shape tight so they didn't get anything the other way."

Known for its first-half offensive attack, GCU (3-2-1) played well defensively through the first 10 minutes of action before senior forward Ben Assane notched the Lopes' first shot in the 11th minute. But as quick as its offensive attack is, GCU took advantage of open space via Lopez in the 29th minute.

Lopez took a pass from freshman midfielder Damon Rouse and dribbled left to right 5 yards from the top right corner of the 18-yard box. Not shy of taking a strike from deep beyond the box, Lopez bent a right-foot strike to the upper-90 portion of the goal, his second goal of the season nearly mirroring his first goal that he recorded at Elon.

"Jorge's goal in the first half was excellent," Kiefer said. "Santa Clara was on top of the WCC last year, and we always want three points, but to leave with one is good."

The assist was Rouse's first of the season and first career collegiate point. The Lopes entered halftime with a 1-0 advantage.

Santa Clara (2-2-1) found the equalizer in the 60th minute of play, as a low line drive snuck through a crowded box and into the far-left corner of the goal.

Of GCU's eight shots, five came in the second half with chances late in the game. Assane waited for a delivery ball to land near the left corner of the box and captured it 5 yards out, but his shot attempt veered left of the post. Lopez nearly had an identical shot to his first-half goal occur in the 79th minute, taking a shot deep from beyond the box, but sailed it high of the bar.

GCU's defense kept Santa Clara in check for most of the second half, aided by Schmidt, who made an 80th-minute save off a shot near the penalty marker with multiple attackers in his face. That save attempt forced one of the Broncos' four corner kicks (GCU had none). It was the first game since Oct. 7, 2022, vs. Utah Valley that the Lopes did not take a corner kick.

GCU returns to Phoenix to host Cal State Fullerton at 7 p.m. Sunday on International Night. Live coverage can be found on ESPN+.