Late Fullerton goal pushes Titans past Lopes

Sunday, September 14

Fullerton, Calif.

5 p.m.

Grand Canyon

4-2-0, 0-0-0

Cal State Fullerton

2-2-3, 0-0-0

Grand Canyon

Cal St. Fullerton

9/14/2025 7:49:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

Ibarra records season-high 6 saves; GCU moves to 4-2

By: Nick Macdonald

FULLERTON, Calif. – In its first road match of the season, Grand Canyon fell 1-0 to Cal State Fullerton on an 87th-minute goal that followed Lopes goalkeeper Daniel Ibarra's season-best six saves on Sunday night.

News and Notes

GCU (4-2) lost 1-0 for the second time this season.
Four of Ibarra's six saves came in the second half to move his season total to 14. The six-save count tied for second most in a game this season by a WAC goalkeeper.
Lopes freshman forward Junior Diouf was held scoreless for the first time this season. Diouf took two shots on goal, half of the team's total.

"I knew going into tonight, it would be a good match with Fullerton, who tied UCLA and California Baptist on the road," GCU head coach George Kiefer said. "I felt the guys played well in segments, but down the stretch, we committed too many fouls and lost our focus. We will regroup and focus on the next match ahead."

Ibarra's night began quickly with a save 40 seconds into the GCU road opener. CSU Fullerton (2-2-3), playing its home opener, nearly took the lead in the seventh minute after a shot hit the left post and went out of bounds for a goal kick.

The Lopes offense totaled 10 shots, extending their double-digit shot streak to six straight games. GCU junior midfielder Jorge Lopez rattled off the first attempt in the 17th minute, closing in on the goalkeeper near his line before running out of space and having his shot blocked.

GCU's best chance of the evening came in the 36th minute, as graduate forward Ben Assane found Diouf inside the box, a connection that has worked for Assane's team-leading three assists. Diouf squared up and fired a shot, but Titan goalkeeper Emanuel Padilla was in the perfect spot to catch the ball at his chest.

Like the first half, the second half began with Ibarra making a stop early as play resumed. Ibarra kept the Titans out of the scoring column with saves in the 47th and 58th minutes.

Ibarra's sixth save was arguably his best, stopping a free kick attempt in the 83rd minute as CSU Fullerton totaled 18 shots and seven shots on goal. The Titans found the back of the net late in the match via a free kick from outside the right corner of the 18-yard box. Ibarra made a diving attempt to his left off a header, but the shot was just out his reach for the second second-half goal of the season against GCU.

The Lopes have a week between matches and will resume play Sunday, Sept. 21, at UC Santa Barbara. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.