Pair of 8-win teams square off Saturday night at GCU Stadium

AT A GLANCE

After nearly a week between games, GCU returns to action for a Saturday night showdown at GCU Stadium against San José State.
Both teams enter with eight wins and have been receiving top-25 votes during the 2025 campaign. The Spartans spent two weeks in the "RV" category earlier this season, while the Lopes are currently receiving votes for the second straight week.
GCU is coming off a 1-0 loss at California Baptist last Saturday, breaking a five-match unbeaten streak. With three of its four remaining games at GCU Stadium, the Lopes own a 7-1 record in Phoenix with its lone loss against top-40 RPI team SMU.
Lopes freshman forward Junior Diouf ranks top 10 in the nation in goals (11) and points (25), putting him on the MAC Hermann Trophy Midseason Watch List. Diouf was also named the No. 1 freshman in the TopDrawerSoccer Top 100 Freshmen to Watch.
GCU has not allowed more than one goal in any game this season and has three shutouts to its name, all coming from graduate goalkeeper Daniel Ibarra. Ibarra is eighth in the country in save percentage (.864) and 20th in goals against average (0.63 per match). The Lopes have outscored their opposition 20-9 and have allowed only three goals over their past five games.
With eight wins, GCU is looking to have double-digit wins for the first time since 2021. A win Saturday would be the most in a single season since that year.
Despite not reaching double-digit shot totals in the last two contests, GCU ranks third in the WAC with 13.5 shots per game. The Lopes have recorded 15 or more shots in six games this season with 10 games in double figures.
GCU graduate forward Ben Assane ranks 20th in the nation in assists per game (0.5), totaling five assists to rank third in the conference.

LAST TIME OUT

GCU fell 1-0 at California Baptist for just its third loss of the season.
The Lopes saw a corner kick goal go into the net with 16 seconds left to play in the first half.
GCU totaled seven shots and four shots on goal in a game that saw 39 fouls and seven yellow cards between both teams.

SCOUTING SAN JOSÉ STATE

The Spartans enter Phoenix 8-3-2 overall and 1-2 in WAC play, owning three points in the conference standings.
San José State has multiple goal scorers on its team with 10 players tallying a goal this season. Arnold Matshazi has a team-high eight goals, which ranks second in the WAC behind Diouf's 11 and 14th in the nation.
The Spartans will be without starting goalkeeper Edgar Guerra, who was issued a red card last match vs. Utah Tech. The probable goalkeeper will be Ronin Axelson, who started last season.
San José State is 4-2 over its last six games, with back-to-back losses entering Phoenix. The Spartans defeated California Baptist 3-1 and drew with No. 3 Stanford 2-2 this season.

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Lopes stay home for a 4 p.m. Thursday showdown with Utah Tech. It is the first game of a men's/women's soccer doubleheader, with the women's match kicking off at 7 p.m.

Pair of 8-win teams square off Saturday night at GCU Stadium

AT A GLANCE

LAST TIME OUT

SCOUTING SAN JOSÉ STATE

WHAT'S NEXT?

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Ben Assane

Junior Diouf

Daniel Ibarra

Grand Canyon University Athletics

Pair of 8-win teams square off Saturday night at GCU Stadium

AT A GLANCE

LAST TIME OUT

SCOUTING SAN JOSÉ STATE

WHAT'S NEXT?

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Ben Assane

Junior Diouf

Daniel Ibarra

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