Lopes visit nationally ranked San Diego on Thursday

Thursday, September 19

San Diego, Calif.

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

San Diego

Phoenix, AZ Sept. 15, 2024 : GCU plays to a 1-1 tie against Cal State Fullerton at GCU Soccer Stadium.

9/18/2024 1:05:00 PM | Men's Soccer

GCU's 8th-toughest schedule includes back-to-back 2023 NCAA tournament opponents

By: Nick Macdonald

Thursday, Sept. 19 \| 7 p.m. \| Torero Stadium \| San Diego, Calif.

	#15 SAN DIEGO TOREROS (5-0-2)	vs.	GRAND CANYON LOPES (3-2-2)

WATCH: ESPN+ \| STATS: Link

AT A GLANCE

GCU heads to 15th-ranked San Diego for a Thursday contest at 7 p.m. It is the Lopes' third game this season against an opponent that was nationally ranked or receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches poll.
The No. 15 ranking for the Toreros is the highest GCU opponent ranking since a contest at No. 2 SMU last season. Since 2022, GCU is 1-1-2 against teams ranked 15th or higher.
The Lopes are coming off back-to-back draws versus Santa Clara and Cal State Fullerton. GCU hadn't played to draws in consecutive games since 2016. If Thursday's contest is a tie, it will be the first time in program history with three consecutive ties in one season.
GCU has ranked in the top 10 for toughest nonconference schedules over the last two weeks and enters Thursday with the eighth-toughest schedule in the nation. The Lopes' past opposition win total is 23, while its cumulative (past and present) totals 47.
GCU senior goalkeeper Leon Schmidt ranks 15th in the nation in saves with 32 on the season. Schmidt has 22 saves in his last four games combined, with four games of five or more stops. Schmidt recorded a career-high nine saves vs. Omaha and ranks second all-time in the programs Division I-era record book.
The Lopes rank 29th in the country and first in the WAC with 13 assists on the year. Eight Lopes have tallied an assist, including seven from sophomore Jorge Lopez (four) and senior Ben Assane (three).
GCU is second in the conference in points (35). Eight Lopes have contributed to the point statistic, led by junior forward Bright Nutornutsi with 11 to rank 25th in the country.
After allowing four goals within the first three games, GCU's defense has stepped up and allowed only three goals over the last four. Its goals against average of 1.0 per contest is 40th best in the nation and second in the WAC. The Lopes also have limited opposing shots, allowing 15 over their last two games in comparison to 25 for the prior two games (Omaha and Creighton).

LAST RANKED WIN: SAN DIEGO

The Lopes are 1-1-2 against ranked teams since last season, with its last win coming at home versus No. 22 San Diego on Sept. 16, 2023. Lopez scored the eventual game-winning goal in the eighth minute with an assist by Nutornutsi.

SCHEDULE VS. THE RPI

The Lopes face eight teams this season who ranked in the top 80 of the final 2023 NCAA RPI rankings. Their nonconference schedule has three teams ranked in the top 35 last season, while a stretch of four straight games from Sept. 12 to Sept. 23 has four teams ranked in last year's top 80.
In games played so far against teams in last year's top 80, GCU is 1-0-2 with a win at Duke (No. 24) and draws against Santa Clara (No. 76) and Ca; State Fullerton (No. 55).

NATION'S 8TH-TOUGHEST SCHEDULE

GCU's nonconference schedule is one of the toughest in the nation, ranking eighth heading into a match against No. 15 San Diego. It ranks the toughest among WAC schools, with its past opposition's record totaling 23-9-6 this season.
The Lopes finish the season against WCC programs San Diego and LMU, which made the NCAA tournament a year ago, including LMU's Elite Eight run.

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Lopes close out nonconference play at home Monday versus LMU at 7 p.m.
It is the third WCC team that GCU will play this season. The Lopes are 0-0-1 against WCC teams this season entering the San Diego match.