Word to the wise fan of Grand Canyon University Men's Club Soccer: don't come to the match late.
 
Before many fans had time to get comfortable in the stands at the GCU Practice Soccer Field Sunday afternoon, the Lopes took a quick 1-0 lead over the University of Arizona. Offense-minded fans that arrived after that score were disappointed as the two defenses took over, leading to a 1-0 GCU victory that kept them undefeated and all by themselves in first place in the Southwest Collegiate Soccer League. It was the Lopes' second straight shutout, which upped their record to 4-0 on the season.
 
The match had the makings of a shootout early, since both squads moved the ball well on nearly every part of the field in the first 10 minutes. When GCU's Gavin Ripley danced down the sideline past three Wildcats' defenders, then nailed a perfect centering pass to fellow sophomore Roberto Perez in front of the net that Perez poked past UA goalkeeper Jake Kuta for the score in the 7^th minute, it looked like the offensive tone had been set.
 
Just like that, it stopped.
 
From there, while the Lopes' offense created scoring opportunities, Kuta was stalwart the rest of the way, thwarting more than a few bonafide chances with great saves. On the other side, Lopes' sophomore goalkeeper Gabriel Orozco was tested very infrequently by a Wildcats' attack that seemed to bog down when trying to work through the Lopes' backline. Most of the match's final 15 minutes was spent in the Lopes' zone, but the GCU defense held U of A to just two shots on goal during that final stretch to preserve Orozco's second consecutive shutout.
 
The Lopes' four-match homestand continues this Friday night, September 27 as the Lopes host Utah Tech University. That 7PM kickoff will slide to the east side of campus and Colter Field before the Lopes return to the GCU Practice Soccer Field to wind up the home swing on Sunday at 1PM against New Mexico State University. Admission to both matches is FREE.