Completed Event: Men's Soccer versus Cleveland State on August 25, 2025 , Win , 3, to, 1
M Soccer
vs Cleveland State
W 3-1
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Sunday, September 21
Santa Barbara, Calif.
7 p.m.
Grand Canyon
at
UC Santa Barbara
Lopes return to action at UCSB on Sunday evening
9/20/2025 10:45:00 AM | Men's Soccer
GCU aims to regroup after narrow 1-0 defeat last week
AT A GLANCE
- After a week break, Grand Canyon returns to action Sunday evening for its second straight road match. GCU heads back to the state of California to face UC Santa Barbara at 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
- Since taking over the starting goalkeeper role on Sept. 4, graduate Daniel Ibarra has made 11 saves over his past three games, including six against CSU Fullerton last time out. Ibarra ranks 22nd in the nation in save percentage (.875) and second in the WAC in goals against average (0.57 per game).
- GCU freshman forward Junior Diouf ranks top 15 nationally in goals and points, with five goals and 12 points through five games played. Diouf is also top 10 nationally in shots per game (3.8), shots on goal per game (2.0) and goals per game (1.0).
- The Lopes have outscored its competition 11-5 this season. GCU's defense has not allowed more than one goal per game all season, and holds an 8-2 goal differential in the second half.
- GCU is third in the conference with 11 assists, led by graduate forward Ben Assane, who is third in the conference with three. The squad is averaging 1.83 assists per game and has had eight players tally an assist.
- For the first time since the 2021 season, GCU's offense has registered six straight games with double-digit shot totals. GCU is averaging 14.3Â shots per game and 5.5Â shots on goal per contest.Â
- Despite the 1-0 defeat last week, the Lopes still rank 34th in the country in goal differential (plus-6). It is the program's least amount of goals given up through the first six matches of the season since 2021 (also six goals).
- GCU has converted on two penalty kicks this season (Alan Hermitte and Diouf) for the first time since 2022.
LAST TIME OUT
- GCU narrowly fell to CSU Fullerton last Sunday 1-0 after an 87th-minute goal broke a 0-0 draw.Â
- The match at Fullerton was the first away from GCU this season.
- Ibarra stopped six shots, a new season high for the graduate, while Diouf led the team with two shots on goal.
SCOUTING UC SANTA BARBARA
- The Gauchos are 2-4-1 on the season and are coming off a 0-0 tie at WAC opponent UNLV.
- UC Santa Barbara is 2-1 at home this season, playing its first game at Harder Stadium since Sept. 5.
- The Gauchos hold a minus-6 goal differential heading into Sunday but have outscored its competition 9-4 at home.Â
- Both teams rank top three in their conference in shots per game, with UC Santa Barbara averaging a Big West-leading 14.9 per contest.
WHAT'S NEXT?Â
- GCU returns home Friday, Sept. 26, and hosts CSUN at 7 p.m.
- The return back to Phoenix will be the first of three straight at GCU Stadium.
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Players Mentioned
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