Tie moves GCU into 4-way tie for 1st place

Saturday, October 18

Phoenix, Ariz.

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

8-3-2, 2-1-1

San Jose State

8-3-3, 1-2-1

San Jose St.

Grand Canyon

Photo by: Jayden Todd

10/18/2025 10:50:00 PM | Men's Soccer, Paul Coro

Box Score

Assane's 1st goal of season proves crucial for WAC standings

By: Paul Coro

The frustration of a 90-minute grind flipping from victory to tie late in Grand Canyon's Saturday night match was soothed by the standings value in that draw's point.

Because of a late-night chain of WAC events, GCU moved from third place to a four-way tie for first place with its 1-1 tie against San José State at GCU Stadium.

Lopes graduate forward Ben Assane scored his first goal of the season in Saturday night's 33rd minute, and the 1-0 margin nearly stood until a debated foul ruling set up San José State for a header goal off the ensuing 71st-minute free kick.

Diego Sanchez

That GCU point for a tie carried significant standings weight after California Baptist beat Utah Valley 4-1 and San Diego State beat Utah Tech 2-1, putting GCU, CBU, SDSU and Utah Tech at a WAC-best seven points apiece with three regular-season matches remaining.

"I thought we were very organized without the ball," Lopes head coach George Kiefer said. "Other than one late that they shot from long distance that we didn't follow up on, I didn't squirm in my seat too much in my seat. We protected our space pretty well."

San José State's goal was only the fourth allowed by GCU (8-3-2, 2-1-1 WAC) in the past six matches. The Spartans (8-3-3, 1-2-1 WAC) were strong in ball possession as usual but came away with the same number of shots on goal as GCU – four.

The Lopes made the most of their limited possession time in the first half, putting pressure on the Spartans before a 33rd-minute breakthrough.

GCU junior defender Felipe Cobian, part of a stalwart effort by the back line, blocked a San José State clearing attempt to where Lopes freshman forward Junior Diouf regained possession of the ball just outside the top of the 18-yard box.

Ben Assane

Diouf lifted a pass to Assane, and the Senegalese pair flipped the order of their usual scoring connection. Assane collected the high bounce off his right leg and, with two Spartans closing in on him, used the outside of his right foot for a sharp-angled, powerful drive into the left side of the net.

"I hit on the outside of my foot," said Assane, who has assisted five of Diouf's 11 goals. "I scored on it a couple times in practice. I'm on the right side, so think I'm going to send it back to Junior. But I had to take my chance, and I'm happy for it."

It marked Assane's 16th career goal but his first since Oct. 6, 2024.

"I've been waiting for long, but I put it in my mind that I'm going to be for the team," Assane said. "It's my last year. I wasn't going to worry about scoring goals. The most important thing is for the team to win, and we're going to do everything we can to win the conference."

GCU applied early second-half pressure from senior forward Nelson Gomez Rodriguez and sophomore forward Alan Hermitte twice, but it was a 50-50 sideline battle between Lopes freshman defender Jack Kiefer and Spartans midfielder Cameron Cook that changed the outcome.

With Kiefer called for a foul, San José State midfielder Gilberto Rivero delivered a left-side liner into the box that found defender Javier Lopez for a header into the goal's right corner and a 1-1 tie in the 71st minute.

Diouf moved into fourth in the nation and third on the GCU Division I-era single-season list with the assist that puts him at 26 points. But he did not take his first – and only – shot until the 76th minute of Saturday night's match. Freshman midfielder Diego Sanchez made a spinning move to set up Diouf, whose lone shot was blocked.

Assane made two late-game tries to center the ball to Diouf, but San José State denied each one. A through ball found Diouf wide left in the 84th minute, but Spartans goalkeeper Ronin Axelson charged to deny any opportunity.

"In terms of the stuff on the ball and the plays they have, I thought San José State would be one of the better teams we've faced all year," said Kiefer, who complimented returning WAC Offensive Player of the Year Angel Iniguez as a future pro. "So I'm really pleased with the way the guys grinded it out. I walk away being really grateful for the guys' human contribution to the game. They worked their tails off."

The Lopes will chase a WAC regular-season title over their last three matches, starting with a Thursday 4 p.m. tilt that pits two of the four teams tied for first – GCU vs. Utah Tech. The Lopes then play at Air Force on Oct. 26 and have the regular-season finale Nov. 1 against UNLV at home.

"We wanted to be on top, but sometimes what you wish and what you get is not the same," Assane said. "We're very thankful for the point we have. But we've got to push it and put in a lot of work. When we focus and work hard, we can have the final win."