Lopes begin new week at home, face Cleveland State

Monday, Aug. 25 \| 7 p.m. \| GCU Stadium \| Phoenix, Ariz.

	CLEVELAND STATE VIKINGS (0-0-1)	at	GRAND CANYON LOPES (1-0-0)

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Grand Canyon plays its second of five consecutive home matches on Monday evening when it welcomes Horizon League foe Cleveland State to GCU Stadium.

AT A GLANCE

The Lopes are coming off a thrilling 2-1 victory over Jacksonville in which Lopes freshman forward Junior Diouf scored two goals in 10 minutes, including the season opener's game-winner with 14 seconds to spare. The win improved GCU's home opener record at GCU Stadium to 10-0, dating back to 2016.
Diouf became the first freshman to score two goals in the same game since junior teammate Jorge Lopez did it Sept. 20, 2023, vs. Houston Christian.
Five GCU freshmen started the season opener Thursday night with eight freshmen making appearances. Lopes freshmen Jack Kiefer and Diego Sanchez played all 90 minutes against the Dolphins.
GCU graduate forward Ben Assane tallied an assist on the game-winning goal vs. Jacksonville. The Preseason All-WAC honoree now has six assists in 17 Lopes matches, dating back to last season.
Back line defenders Viggo Gustavsson and Liam Harrington return after playing a combined 3,074 minutes as freshmen in 2024. Harrington led all field players in minutes (1,620), while Gustavsson registered 1,454 and was named to the WAC All-Freshman Team.
The Lopes face the Vikings for the first time in program history.
The Lopes were picked sixth in the WAC Preseason Coaches' Poll. Reigning WAC champ San Diego State led the way with four first-place votes.
GCU brings in multiple All-America transfers, including a pair of Phoenix College stars in Michael Watkins and Martin Luala, who were each honored on the NJCAA All-America Teams last season. Also earning top honors was defender Felipe Cobian, who was named South Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year and United Soccer Coaches Division III All-America second team last season.

LAST TIME OUT

GCU defeated Jacksonville 2-1 in thrilling fashion Thursday in the season opener at GCU Stadium.
The Lopes improved to 10-0 in home openers at GCU Stadium, dating back to 2016.
The match was delayed two hours and 20 minutes due to lightning in the area. It was the second straight season the season opener was delayed by more than two hours due to lightning.
Diouf scored two goals, the first ones of his career, over the final 10 minutes of action, including the game-winner with 14 seconds to spare.

SCOUTING CLEVELAND STATE

The Vikings and Lopes meet for the first time in program history Monday evening.
Cleveland State is 0-0-1 after a 1-1 tie at home Thursday versus Santa Clara.
The Vikings tallied six shots for the match, including their goal in the ninth minute to take a 1-0 lead. Six yellow cards were given out.

WHAT'S NEXT?

GCU remains home this week and hosts Sacramento State at 7 p.m. Thursday.
The Lopes open the season with five straight games at home, including No. 5 SMU on Sept. 4 and Santa Clara on Sept. 8.

Monday, Aug. 25 | 7 p.m. | GCU Stadium | Phoenix, Ariz.

AT A GLANCE

LAST TIME OUT

SCOUTING CLEVELAND STATE

WHAT'S NEXT?

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Ben Assane

Felipe Cobian

Junior Diouf

Viggo Gustavsson

Liam Harrington

Jack Kiefer

Jorge Lopez

Martin Luala

Diego Sanchez

Michael Watkins

Grand Canyon University Athletics

Lopes begin new week at home, face Cleveland State

Monday, Aug. 25 | 7 p.m. | GCU Stadium | Phoenix, Ariz.

AT A GLANCE

LAST TIME OUT

SCOUTING CLEVELAND STATE

WHAT'S NEXT?

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Ben Assane

Felipe Cobian

Junior Diouf

Viggo Gustavsson

Liam Harrington

Jack Kiefer

Jorge Lopez

Martin Luala

Diego Sanchez

Michael Watkins

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