Men’s Soccer Defeated by Grand Canyon in Defensive Battle

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros men’s soccer team was defeated 2-0 in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) opener by the Grand Canyon (GCU) Lopes Sunday in front of nearly 1,000 fans at the UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex.

The match was a defensive battle that looked even on the pitch and on the box score. In the first half, the Vaqueros (2-5-1, 0-1-0 WAC) outshot Grand Canyon 5-2 and 2-1 with shots on goal. But the Lopes (4-4-2, 1-0-0 WAC) made the most of their best chance, taking a 1-0 lead in the 18^th minute as Bright Nutornutsi converted on a speedy attack for GCU with help from a nice assist from Ben Assane.

UTRGV controlled time of possession after the early goal and earned six corners in the first half while preventing any for GCU. Sophomore forward Keaviano Francis and junior midfielder Ricardo Joasilus put shots on goal in the 22^nd and 29^th minutes, respectively, but GCU keeper Leon Schmidt came up with a pair of saves. Junior midfielder Cade Erickson had some strong defensive moments to help the Vaqueros contain the Lopes’ offense after the score.

GCU extended the lead to 2-0 in the 48^th minute. The Lopes raced up the pitch to convince the keeper to commit outside of the net, then Assane scored a goal of his own with an assist from Nelson Gomez Rodriguez. 

The Vaqueros played well through the remainder of the match though they were unable to get on the scoreboard. UTRGV tallied six corner kicks in the second frame but neither team took many shots in the back-and-forth second half. Sophomore goalkeeper Fernando Carreon made his lone save of the match in the 61^st minute to keep the contest within reach.

UTRGV increased the pressure in the waning minutes of the match, but GCU’s solid defense secured the win. Sophomore forward Jaime Carrillo created a shot opportunity in the 88^th minute, but it was blocked. Schmidt made two saves for the Lopes.

UTRGV’s next match is Thursday at 6:30 p.m. against Utah Valley in a conference match at the UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex. Attendance is free but fans will need a digital pass to gain entrance. Fans can sign up for the UTRGV Soccer Pass at GoUTRGV.com/SoccerPass. A clear bag policy is in place at the facility.