The Grand Canyon University men's soccer team (2-9-1, 1-4-0) lost 3-1 tonight to San Jose State University (2-10-2, 2-4-0) on Spartan Field in San Jose, Calif. It was a physical match from start to finish, with the teams combining for 27 fouls in what was a statistically evenly-matched contest.

Neither team scored in the first half, as San Jose State narrowly outshot GCU 5-4. The Spartans also put the lone shot on goal in the 33^rd minute, which was saved by GCU goalkeeper Joshua Zehring.

"It hurts because it was 0-0 and we made a mistake in the backfield and they punished us," said head coach Petar Draksin. "We played well until that and it cost us."

On their first shot of the second half, the Spartans were able to find the back of the net when Rory Knibbs took advantage of a GCU defensive miscue to score from about six yards out in the 52^nd minute.

SJSU was awarded a penalty kick in the 75^th minute following a 'Lopes foul in the box. Frankie Beauchamp successfully converted the attempt to put the Spartans ahead 2-0. With under two minutes remaining in the game, SJSU extended their lead to 3-0 when Knibbs collected his second score of the contest on an assist from Beauchamp.

"After the penalty kick, we had no options left but to move forward and try to score, so I pushed to get our first goal," added Draksin. "That's how soccer works and it's been that kind of year for us. You create your own luck. It seems like we just can't catch a break. It's difficult to understand."

Thirty seconds later, Alberto Sanchez Garcia put GCU on the board with his fourth goal of the season, tying him for the team lead. Sanchez Garcia pushed the ball past Spartans keeper Emmanuel Espinosa as Kyle Ciliento, who also has four goals this season, picked up his team-leading third assist.

Each squad attempted eight shots in the final 45 minutes, with both finding more accuracy as the 'Lopes put four on target.
Ciliento led the squad offensively with four shot attempts, while he, Sanchez Garcia, Brandon Hansen, and Anel Smajic each recorded a shot on goal.

GCU will play the last of this four-game trip when they travel to take on WAC-leader Seattle U on Sunday at 1 p.m. Fans can follow the action live by visiting www.gculopes.com.

"We travel to Seattle tomorrow and we have to get ready physically and mentally for them," Draksin said. "They are the best team in the conference, so we have to be fresh in order to compete. We are just going to keep working hard and we will not give up. We are going to keep our spirits up and take it one game at a time."

 

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