Title game aspirations set with GCU-Utah Tech semifinal Wednesday

Wednesday, November 12

Riverside, Calif.

5 p.m. (MST)

Grand Canyon

Utah Tech

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Title game aspirations set with GCU-Utah Tech semifinal Wednesday

11/11/2025 2:14:00 PM | Men's Soccer

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Lopes seek their 1st WAC Tournament championship visit since 2021

By: Nick Macdonald

AT A GLANCE

After defeating Utah Valley in the WAC Tournament quarterfinals, No. 3 seed Grand Canyon advanced to Wednesday's semifinal round and will face No. 2 seed Utah Tech on Wednesday afternoon in Riverside, California.
It was the first WAC Tournament win for the Lopes since 2021. GCU is 1-1 in WAC Tournament play since 2022.
The Lopes' victory over Utah Valley extended their unbeaten streak of six games, GCU's longest of the season. The Lopes' last loss came one month to the date of the Utah Tech match. They have gone 3-0-3 since then.
GCU freshman forward Junior Diouf earned a plethora of awards, including WAC Offensive Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year. He is the third Lope to earn WAC Offensive POTY and first since Shaun Joash in 2022. Diouf is having one of the best single seasons in program history, tying for fourth in the nation in goals (14) and ranking fourth in points (32) while totaling 60 shots, 29 shots on goal, a .483 shot-on goal percentage and five game-winning goals, which is tied for second most in the nation. He also was named to the All-WAC First Team and All-WAC Freshman Team.
Lopes sophomore forward Alan Hermitte scored the lone goal against Utah Valley for his third game-winner of the season. Diouf and Hermitte have combined for eight game-winning goals this season. Freshman defender Charles Volcy notched his first career point with the assist to Hermitte in the second half.
Graduate goalkeeper Daniel Ibarra registered his fifth shutout of the season, making three saves to move his total to 50. Ibarra's .820 save percentage ranks 16th best in the nation, and the Lopes rank 20th in goals against average (0.76 per game).
GCU's offense continues to test opposing defenses, averaging 15.7 shots per game and 6.1 shots on goal per match with both marks ranking in the top 20 nationally. The Lopes' 283 shots are 15 shy of the program's D-I era record of 298, set in 2021.

LAST TIME OUT

GCU defeated Utah Valley in shutout fashion in the WAC quarterfinal round Sunday, winning 1-0 via a Hermitte game-winning goal in the 48th minute.
The winner was Hermitte's third of the season and third goal of 2025.
Ibarra had three saves and notched his fifth shutout of the season. He entered the top 20 in the nation for save percentage by making 50 saves this season.
It was the 16th game this season that the defense has allowed zero or one goals in a match.

SCOUTING UTAH TECH

Utah Tech tied for second with GCU in the WAC regular-season standings, earning the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye after finishing 4-6-6 overall and 3-1-3 in conference play.
Head coach Jonny Broadhead received WAC Coach of the Year honors, followed by goalkeeper Luca Campoli, defender Anthony Godinez and forward Taylor Rogers earning All-WAC first team and forward Dunes Nielson notching All-WAC second-team accolades.
Campoli was named WAC Goalkeeper of the Year and has totaled 35 saves in 11 matches, owning a 1.87 goals against average with two shutouts.
Rogers ranks in the WAC top five for goals (seven) and has notched five assists, one behind graduate forward Ben Assane's six, which is second in the WAC.
The Trailblazers are 1-5-4 away from home and have yet to play a neutral-site game. They are 3-1-2 over their last six games.

WHAT'S NEXT?

If GCU wins Wednesday, it will clinch a spot in the WAC Tournament title match for the first time since 2021.
Championship Saturday kicks off at 2 p.m. (Phoenix time) on ESPN+.