Road opener puts GCU to test Sunday at CSU Fullerton

Sunday, September 14

Fullerton, Calif.

5 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Cal State Fullerton

Tickets

9/13/2025 11:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer

Watch Live Stats Game Notes

Lopes rank top 25 nationally in scoring offense, goal differential

By: Nick Macdonald

AT A GLANCE

Grand Canyon heads on the road for the first time this season Sunday evening at CSU Fullerton in California. It is a rematch of last year's contest in Phoenix, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
Lopes freshman forward Junior Diouf ranks top 10 nationally in goals (five) and points (12) through his four games. Diouf is also top 10 nationally in shots per game (4.25), shots on goal per game (2.0), and goals per game (1.25).
GCU freshman defender Charles Volcy won WAC Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 9, playing all 90 minutes in two games when GCU allowed one goal.
The Lopes have outscored its competition 11-4 this season and earned their first shutout of the season Sept. 8 in a 4-0 victory over Santa Clara. GCU's defense has not allowed more than one goal per game all season, and holds an 11-4 goal differential, including 8-1 in the second half.
GCU tallied six assists against Santa Clara on four goals scored and rank 32nd nationally in assists (11) and assists per game (2.2). Graduate forward Ben Assane leads GCU with three, while eight Lopes have notched an assist.
Graduate goalkeeper Daniel Ibarra holds a 0.40 goals against average in two starts and three games played this season. His .889 save percentage ranks 23rd in the country and second in the WAC.
For the first time since 2021, GCU's offense has registered five straight games with double-digit shot totals. The Lopes rank 32nd in the country in shots per game (15.2) and have totaled 15 or more shots in three of five games this season.
GCU has converted on two penalty kicks this season (Alan Hermitte and Diouf) for the first time since 2022.

LAST TIME OUT

The Lopes won 4-0 over Santa Clara on Monday evening for their first shutout win of the season.
Six Lopes tallied an assist, including Assane, who leads the team with three on the season.
GCU senior Nelson Gomez Rodriguez recorded a brace while freshman forward Michael Watkins scored his first goal as a Lope.
Diouf extended his goal-scoring streak, converting a 90th-minute penalty kick for his fifth goal of the season.

SCOUTING CSU FULLERTON

The Titans enter Sunday with a 1-2-3 record and are 0-2-1 over their last three matches.
CSU Fullerton is second in the Big West in goals and goals per game, scoring seven on the season with five over its last three games.
The match Sunday is the first home contest for the Titans in their seventh match. On the flip side, GCU heads on the road for the first time after playing its first five matches at GCU Stadium.

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Lopes take a week off before resuming play Sunday, Sept. 21, at UC Santa Barbara for their second straight road contest.
GCU returns home Friday, Sept. 26, and plays host to CSUN at 7 p.m.