Completed Event: Men's Soccer versus Utah Tech on October 23, 2025 , Tie , 2, to, 2
M Soccer
vs Utah Tech
T 2-2
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Monday, September 9
Phoenix, Ariz.
7 p.m.
Grand Canyon
3-2-0, 0-0-0
0
vs
1
Creighton
3-1-2, 0-0-0
1st half1
2nd half2
FinalF
Creighton
1
0
1
Grand Canyon
0
0
0
Photo by: David Kadlubowski
Creighton grabs 1st visitor win at GCU this season
9/9/2024 10:31:00 PM | Men's Soccer, Paul Coro
Lopes' latest tough test results in being shut out for 1st time
In the pursuit of big rewards, the Grand Canyon men's soccer team is taking on big challenges.
Adversity can unlock the next step, and that is how GCU will look at Monday night's 1-0 home loss to Creighton that caps a string of four Lopes opponents with a cumulative 15-3-4 record.
A GCU Stadium crowd of 1,512 fans saw the Lopes get shut out in a first half and in a match for the first time this season. Creighton (3-1-2) implemented a three-back formation that stymied GCU's attack.
"I was pleased with the work rate out of our guys," Lopes head coach George Kiefer said. "Early on with their formation, we needed to travel across the field quicker. We were a little slow early, and that gave them some good momentum. But the response was good from the guys."
Creighton outshot GCU 20-12 and held a 9-4 advantage on corner kicks, but the match was decided on an unconventional goal.
Just moments after Lopes sophomore forward Solo Bidanessy ripped a left-footed shot just over goal, Creighton's front line got behind the GCU defense on the left wing to set up a close-range cross. As the pass found Bluejays junior Ryusei Shimonishi for his right-side header from 8 yards out, GCU senior goalkeeper Leon Schmidt swatted the shot away from behind the goal line for the plane-crossing score and a 1-0 lead.
The Lopes' frontline speed nearly created a one-on-one shot in the first minute of the match, but the mismatches were harder to come by thereafter as Creighton adjusted defensively. The Bluejays fired four shots before GCU took its first in the 14th minute, when sophomore midfielder Jorge Lopez launched one from nearly the midfield circle.
A Bidanessy upfield push led to Lopez taking a free kick just above the box in the 25th minute, but that shot sailed wide right. GCU managed to even the shots at 7-7 after a low shot from freshman midfielder Damon Rouse and a corner-kick header by freshman defender Viggo Gustavsson were stopped.
Schmidt made jumping and diving saves to keep GCU (3-2) within a goal, but the Lopes were limited to long or off-target shots.
"You never want to lose at home," GCU graduate forward Jony Munoz said. "There's a pride that this team has built up in our culture of defending our home. You learn from it.
"That's a really good team. We had our opportunities in the game too. That gives a lot of life to our team to know that's a game that maybe could go our way. The next time a situation like this comes, we certainly are going to make it go our way."
Creighton, a 2022 College Cup qualifier, only has been beaten by No. 3 Denver this season.
GCU will quickly turn to the road for a Thursday night game at future West Coast Conference foe Santa Clara, which will be playing its home opener.
"I keep telling them, 'Don't ride the roller coaster of results; just keeping getting better,' " Kiefer said. "Creighton was a great opponent to learn from and move on. Games come quick.
"This schedule's great for us, and that was intentional. It will prepare us well."
Adversity can unlock the next step, and that is how GCU will look at Monday night's 1-0 home loss to Creighton that caps a string of four Lopes opponents with a cumulative 15-3-4 record.
A GCU Stadium crowd of 1,512 fans saw the Lopes get shut out in a first half and in a match for the first time this season. Creighton (3-1-2) implemented a three-back formation that stymied GCU's attack.
"I was pleased with the work rate out of our guys," Lopes head coach George Kiefer said. "Early on with their formation, we needed to travel across the field quicker. We were a little slow early, and that gave them some good momentum. But the response was good from the guys."
Creighton outshot GCU 20-12 and held a 9-4 advantage on corner kicks, but the match was decided on an unconventional goal.
Just moments after Lopes sophomore forward Solo Bidanessy ripped a left-footed shot just over goal, Creighton's front line got behind the GCU defense on the left wing to set up a close-range cross. As the pass found Bluejays junior Ryusei Shimonishi for his right-side header from 8 yards out, GCU senior goalkeeper Leon Schmidt swatted the shot away from behind the goal line for the plane-crossing score and a 1-0 lead.The Lopes' frontline speed nearly created a one-on-one shot in the first minute of the match, but the mismatches were harder to come by thereafter as Creighton adjusted defensively. The Bluejays fired four shots before GCU took its first in the 14th minute, when sophomore midfielder Jorge Lopez launched one from nearly the midfield circle.
A Bidanessy upfield push led to Lopez taking a free kick just above the box in the 25th minute, but that shot sailed wide right. GCU managed to even the shots at 7-7 after a low shot from freshman midfielder Damon Rouse and a corner-kick header by freshman defender Viggo Gustavsson were stopped.
Schmidt made jumping and diving saves to keep GCU (3-2) within a goal, but the Lopes were limited to long or off-target shots.
"You never want to lose at home," GCU graduate forward Jony Munoz said. "There's a pride that this team has built up in our culture of defending our home. You learn from it.
"That's a really good team. We had our opportunities in the game too. That gives a lot of life to our team to know that's a game that maybe could go our way. The next time a situation like this comes, we certainly are going to make it go our way."
Creighton, a 2022 College Cup qualifier, only has been beaten by No. 3 Denver this season.
GCU will quickly turn to the road for a Thursday night game at future West Coast Conference foe Santa Clara, which will be playing its home opener.
"I keep telling them, 'Don't ride the roller coaster of results; just keeping getting better,' " Kiefer said. "Creighton was a great opponent to learn from and move on. Games come quick.
"This schedule's great for us, and that was intentional. It will prepare us well."
Team Stats
CU
GCU
Goals
1
0
Shots
20
12
Shots on Goal
7
5
Saves
5
6
Corners
9
4
Fouls
9
9
Scoring Plays
Ryusei Shimonishi (1)
Assisted By: Jackson Castro , Miguel Arilla
GOAL by CU Shimonishi, Ryusei Assist by Castro, Jackson and Arilla, Miguel.
19:20
Game Leaders
mid
Shots
3
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
fwd
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Soccer
D
/ Men's SoccerM
/ Men's Soccer
M
/ Men's Soccer
GK
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