Extra time.
 
Extra headache.
 
After watching his team take the lead in the 79^th minute, Lopes' Head Coach Sean O'Leary saw his hopes of tagging 7^th-ranked Brigham Young University with an upset loss evaporate as the Cougars scored in extra time in a 29-26 loss at the GCU Practice Soccer Field on the GCU campus. The foiled upset bid dropped the overall record of the 16^th-ranked Grand Canyon University Men's Rugby team to even at 3-3, while the Cougars found a way to stay undefeated (7-0) on the 2025-26 season.
 
The Lopes smelled upset from the opening kickoff, staying with the Cougars throughout the 1^st half – thanks to a pair of 1^st-half tries from GCU grad student Jackson Gray and a third from Lopes' senior Luke Neely, staking them to a 19-12 halftime lead. The Cougar defense took control throughout much of the 2^nd half, allowing the Cougars to find the try zone twice to take a 23-19 lead heading to the final six minutes of play. The Lopes found a second wind, marching down the field and taking the lead in the 79^th minute of Vince McKeefery's dive. Marcus Terzoli's third two-point conversion gave the Lopes a 26-23 edge, ensuring that the Cougars couldn't win the match on a penalty kick as the center official kept track of the extra time on the field. BYU took the ensuing kickoff and found holes in the Lopes' defense, finally ending the match on a try from Ryan Larsen.
 
"This was by far the best performance by our team since I've been here," said O'Leary. "The result was heartbreaking, but our response to a lackluster performance against St. Mary's (two weeks ago) showed the players the intensity needed at this level and the fact that they can play at this level. They showed great energy, passion, discipline and connection, and I'm so very, very proud."
 
The Lopes will conclude their three-match homestand this Saturday, January 31^st, by moving to GCU Soccer Stadium to host Canada-based Trinity Western University, a team that came to Phoenix last year and gutted out a 29-22 victory over GCU. Kickoff is scheduled for noon, and admission is FREE.