Pair of 2nd-half goals lift Lopes over CSUN

Friday, September 26

Phoenix, Ariz.

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

5-2-1, 0-0-0

CSUN

5-1-3, 0-0-0

CSUN

Grand Canyon

9/26/2025 11:04:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

Luala scores 1st with GCU; offense totals 21 shots

By: Nick Macdonald

After a day of constant rain on the campus of Grand Canyon, the clouds parted ways Friday night just in time for the Lopes kickoff against CSUN.

Mirroring the weather, the downpour of shots came from the Lopes offense, which took its most since 2022 en route to a 2-0 win against CSUN. The Matadors (5-1-3) had allowed one goal in their previous eight matches combined.

News and notes

GCU totaled 21 shots, the most by the Lopes since an Oct. 21, 2022, match against Houston Christian. The squad tallied 12 in the first half and finished with nine shots on goal.
Sophomore Alan Hermitte scored the eventual game-winner in the 59th minute, when he broke a 0-0 tie. GCU junior Martin Luala found the scoring column for the first time this season in the 85th minute to stamp a shutout victory and improve the Lopes to 5-2-1.
GCU graduate goalkeeper Daniel Ibarra earned his second shutout of the season, making four saves in the process. Ibarra has 17 saves over his last three matches.

The Lopes rattled off shot after shot throughout the first half, seeing chances narrowly miss or saved by CSUN goalkeeper Dorian Drucks, who entered Friday ranked second nationally in save percentage.

GCU freshman forward Junior Diouf worked his way into a one-on-one situation with Drucks but lifted his shot just high of the left corner of the goal for a goal kick. Sophomore Viggo Gustavsson gathered a loose ball inside the box and headed on target, only for the ball to hit the crossbar and sail out of play for another goal kick.

Junior Felipe Cobian had perhaps the best first half look for the Lopes, who consistently pressed a CSUN defense that had recorded seven shutouts in eight previous matches. Cobian powered a low line drive shot toward the center of the net, but Drucks was perfectly positioned to catch one of his six first-half saves.

The scoreless first half had it share of physicality, with seven yellow cards (5 CSUN, 2 GCU).

The pressure didn't stop from the Lopes, and a halftime substitution proved beneficial for head coach George Kiefer's squad.

GCU freshman forward Max Kiefer entered and was on the defensive side of the pitch when he found the ball at his foot. Looking up, Kiefer hit a long ball toward Hermitte, who hustled 30 yards down the left side of the pitch to face Drucks one on one. Hermitte hit a low liner toward the left corner and banged it off the post into the net for the first score in the 59th minute.

LOPES take the LEAD‼️

Alan Hermitte finds the corner! 1-0 GCU pic.twitter.com/tWBXdIhFE2
— GCU Men's Soccer (@GCU_MSoccer) September 27, 2025

The goal was Hermitte's second of the season and second at home after converting a penalty kick versus Sacramento State.

CSUN doubled its first-half shot total with six in the second half, but GCU's defense thwarted the shot attempts. Taking advantage of open space off a corner, Diouf found himself in a similar situation as Hermitte, but on the right-hand side. Diouf's shot was saved, and bounced out to Cobian, who had his shot blocked by a CSUN defender. As that ball skied in the air, Luala gathered with his right foot and struck the ball into the back of the net for the game-clinching goal.

One shot, two shot, three shot, goal!!! ⚽️

Martin Luala finds the back of the net! pic.twitter.com/nkGE5g1YxT
— GCU Men's Soccer (@GCU_MSoccer) September 27, 2025

Twelve cards were called in the match, with five going against GCU and the teams being assessed four yellow cards in the final five minutes.

GCU remains home to next face UT Rio Grande Valley on Tuesday night in its final nonconference match of 2025. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. on ESPN+.