Fast-starting Lopes put 1st loss on Omaha

Friday, September 6

Phoenix, Ariz.

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

3-1-0, 0-0-0

Omaha

4-1-0, 0-0-0

Omaha

Grand Canyon

Photo by: David Kadlubowski

9/6/2024 11:00:00 PM | Men's Soccer, Paul Coro

Box Score Photo Gallery

GCU entertains crowd of 2,012 with shutout win highlighted by Bidanessy, Nutornutsi goals

By: Paul Coro

The Grand Canyon men's soccer team does not have to start great, but it is starting to play great because it does.

The Lopes are taking quick leads that are emblematic of their team speed and style of play. On Friday night, doing so gave GCU a 2-0 advantage in the first 20 minutes, and the Lopes maintained that margin to give Omaha its first loss of the season in front of 2,012 fans at GCU Stadium.

In a battle of teams receiving top-25 votes, the Lopes (3-1) made the case for more with their second marquee victory of the season after defeating Duke on the road last week.

GCU has not allowed a goal in its first two home games with two freshmen starting on the back line and senior goalkeeper Leon Schmidt making a career-high nine saves Friday night.

"The response was good," Lopes head coach George Kiefer said of his team's first game since losing 2-1 at Elon (4-0). "Having the crowd here and the energy, it's really exciting. I'm very grateful to be coaching here because it's a special place to play for sure."

Phoenix, AZ Sept. 6, 2024 :: GCU shuts out Omaha 2-0 at GCU Soccer Stadium. David Kadlubowski/GCU

Phoenix, AZ Sept. 6, 2024 :: GCU shuts out Omaha 2-0 at GCU Soccer Stadium. David Kadlubowski/GCU

The fans were treated to special goals from a quick-striking offense that has scored seven first-half goals in four matches this season.

GCU sophomore midfielder Jorge Lopez has recorded a point in each game this season, getting an assist Friday night when he chipped a 25-yard pass from the midfield with perfect timing to set up sophomore forward Solo Bidanessy slipping behind his right-side defender.

Bidanessy used the second bounce to ground a shot past the charging goalkeeper for his third career goal and a 1-0 Lopes lead in the 14th minute.

"We've been working on that for three weeks with movements in behind," Kiefer said.

Five minutes later, GCU freshman defender Viggo Gustavsson sent a long ball from the backfield to senior forward Ben Assane darting in from the left sideline and above the box. Assane guided the ball with a touch to junior forward Bright Nutornutsi, who created another clip for his season highlight reel.

Phoenix, AZ Sept. 6, 2024 :: GCU shuts out Omaha 2-0 at GCU Soccer Stadium. David Kadlubowski/GCU

With his back to the goal at the top of the 18-yard box, Nutornutsi controlled the ball with his left foot and simultaneously whipped his right leg sideways for a hot shot that put GCU ahead 2-0 in the 19th minute.

"It's what the game gives you, so you just have to go with it," Nutornutsi said. "I saw the chance and thought, 'Why not?'

"In a game, I just have it in my mind that any ball around the 18, I have to finish it if I have the space. That was a great ball from Viggo. The whole team's contribution and the hard work from the back to the middles is just amazing."

It was Nutornutsi's fifth goal of the season, putting him in the national top 10, and the Ghana native's 15th goal of his career. Kiefer did not even see a shot coming this time.

"That's Bright being special," Kiefer said. "He just buries it. That's what good players do. It wasn't anything we drew up. He just roped it. That's why I like Bright on our team. He's dangerous."

Omaha, a 2023 NCAA tournament qualifier, had won three consecutive meetings with GCU but its experienced team could not score despite taking 17 shots with 12 in the second half. Schmidt made a diving save Phoenix, AZ Sept. 6, 2024 :: GCU shuts out Omaha 2-0 at GCU Soccer Stadium. David Kadlubowski/GCU

on an 85th-minute shot, but much of the attack's heat was cooled by the Lopes defense.

"I respect Omaha," Kiefer said. "They didn't sit back. They pushed us back. I like coaches that believe in their group. I know Creighton's going to believe in their team, so that game should be fun on Monday.

"We struggled on the ball in the first half. For 30 minutes of the second half, we did a better job moving them and dragging them around. We have some young guys who are better than they believe they are. We just have to get them to believe how good they are."

GCU is entrusting the freshman duo of Gustavsson, from Sweden, and Liam Harrington, from Huntington, New York, to shift and slide smoothly at 6 feet 3 apiece. Harrington played the entire match Friday as he acclimates to desert heat and The Platform, the GCU student section that was blasting vuvuzelas for Los Lopes Night.

Phoenix, AZ Sept. 6, 2024 :: GCU shuts out Omaha 2-0 at GCU Soccer Stadium. David Kadlubowski/GCU

"It's our surroundings, the fans here, how we work on and off the field, the energy, how we communicate very well together," Harrnigton said. "We take a lot of pride when we play here. We want to show everybody we're here to win. We want to change the program from what it was.

"The program here is perfect for me. I couldn't ask for a better school."

GCU plays Creighton at 7 p.m. Monday in GCU Stadium, The Lopes won a 2-1 match last season at Creighton, which is two years removed from reaching the College Cup as a national semifinalist.

"Creighton's really difficult," Kiefer said. "It's going to be a fun game. (Bluejays head coach) Johnny Torres is not going to come here and be scared of Grand Canyon. So we're going to go after the,m and they're going to go after us."