Career firsts lead way in shutout of Santa Clara

Monday, September 8

Phoenix, Ariz.

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

4-1-0, 0-0-0

Santa Clara

2-2-2, 0-0-0

Santa Clara

Grand Canyon

Photo by: Nate Cochran

9/8/2025 11:03:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

GCU's Gomez Rodriguez scores twice; Diouf adds goal in return

By: Nick Macdonald

The Grand Canyon men's soccer team's five-game homestand finished with a 4-1 record, capped by Monday night's 4-0 victory over Santa Clara in yet another dominant second-half performance that included three goal scorers and six assist makers.

News and notes

Senior forward Nelson Gomez Rodriguez, playing in his second season at GCU after transferring from Glendale Community College, recorded a brace for his first career goals as a Lope. Gomez Rodriguez struck a late first-half goal, then opened the second half with another goal less than five minutes into the resumption of play.
Sophomore forward Michael Watkins tallied his first career goal as a Lope 57 seconds into the second half.
GCU freshman forward Junior Diouf returned to play after sitting out Thursday night's 1-0 loss to SMU due to a red card infraction against Sacramento State. Diouf assisted Gomez Rodriguez on his first goal and scored a 90th-minute penalty kick for his fifth goal of the season in four appearances. The nation's leader in goals scored this season was six entering Monday night, and Dieouf's 12 points are now four back of the national leader.
GCU is 4-1 and will hit the road for the first time in 2025 with back-to-back matches at CSU Fullerton on Sunday and at UC Santa Barbara on Sept. 21.

A common occurrence for the Lopes this season is when they score, they find more. GCU's offense was hot from the start, totaling six shots through the first 40 minutes with a near goal from freshman forward Max Kiefer, who missed just wide left of the left post in the 11th minute. Santa Clara (2-2-2) pressured early with three shots in the first 20 minutes, but GCU's stout defense kept all shots off frame.

The rhythm of the offense continuously took form as the match went on and finally found a goal off the foot of Gomez Rodriguez, the Carl Hayden High School alumnus, in the 42nd minute. Junior defender Felipe Cobian passed toward Diouf, who flicked a pass to Gomez Rodiguez in stride down the left side of the 18-yard box. Gomez Rodriguez took one dribble and, as the left side of the goal seemed to be the better angle, rifled a low shot toward the right post past the keeper for the score.

"It was an amazing feeling, and I have been looking for this moment ever since I came to GCU," Gomez Rodriguez said. "When I play, I only think about how I can help the team, and tonight was special because I was able to help the team by scoring. It doesn't matter to me who scores, but tonight I am glad I helped the team by scoring two."

The offense outplayed the Broncos in nearly every facet of the first half, outshooting them 8-3 with a 6-0 corner kick advantage.

That momentum took virtually no time to carry over into the second half. GCU freshman midfielder Diego Sanchez look near the right corner to find graduate forward Ben Assane, who passed toward the middle of the box to set up Watkins' back-heel touch that created space and netted a lower-left-90 goal for a quick 2-0 second-half lead.

"It felt good to get that first goal," Watkins said. "We were pressuring them in that second half, and our defense came to play and played hard all 90 minutes. We pressed, got the ball and played our style of game."

Gomez Rodriguez benefited from his spacing for the game's third goal. The forward found junior midfielder Martin Luala near the top of the box, who flipped a volley pass toward goal. Lopes sophomore forward Richard Tabares Ochoa ran to the spot just in the nick of time before the opposing goalkeeper could lay a hand on it and flipped the ball over his head for Gomez Rodriguez, who scissor-kicked a shot into the open net.

While the Broncos had seven second-half shots, GCU graduate goalkeeper Daniel Ibarra thwarted away any good looks with two saves while directing a back line that has not given up more than one goal per game this season.

As the match came to a close, Kiefer drew a foul inside the box that allowed Diouf, riding a three-match scoring streak, to take the penalty shot. Diouf converted, and GCU walked out of GCU Stadium a 4-0 winner and avenged a 1-1 tie at Santa Clara a season ago.

"I thought the discipline of the team was very good tonight," Lopes head coach George Kiefer said. "Santa Clara is a good team, and I thought tactically we were good, and the key was staying on the ball for long segments, and I thought we did that very well. I am most pleased with the amount of guys that had an impact on the game. Guys coming off the bench and making impact plays shows our depth on this team, and I am very happy with the well-rounded effort."

The Lopes had 16 shots, marking the third time this season with 15 or more shots and fifth straight match with a double-figure shot total. It marked the first time since Oct. 8-22, 2021, that they recorded double-figure shots in five consecutive matches.

GCU is on the road for the first time this season Sunday evening at CSU Fullerton.

VAMOS NELSON!!! 🎉🙌

1-0 GCU‼️ pic.twitter.com/eLnYtkjnCv
— GCU Men's Soccer (@GCU_MSoccer) September 9, 2025

Not even 60 seconds into the second half!!! 😱

Michael Watkins with his first career goal makes it a 2-0 game. pic.twitter.com/BRMEgffam7
— GCU Men's Soccer (@GCU_MSoccer) September 9, 2025