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PHOENIX, Ariz. – The HBU men's soccer team came out on the wrong end of a 5-2 decision in WAC soccer action on Sunday night, losing to Grand Canyon at GCU Stadium.
Redshirt sophomore
Dominick Faletto managed to put an early shot on goal for HBU (3-4-0, 0-2-0 WAC) in the fourth minute but Grand Canyon's (4-5-0, 1-0-0 WAC) Jeremy Pollard came up with the save. In the 13
th minute,
Malik Key had a shot blocked but was able to recover and put a shot on goal, however Pollard was again game to make the save. Less than 40 seconds later, GCU's Niki Jackson put the first shot on goal for the Lopes, testing Husky goalkeeper
Chance Pope but HBU was able to keep things scoreless.
The Lopes' Charlie Keating recorded the first goal of the match at the 32:04 mark, beating Pope to the bottom right corner. Grand Canyon then added to its lead in the 40
th minute when Jackson took an assist from Josh Drack to beat Pope to the bottom right corner and make it a 2-0 match. The Lopes then added their third goal of the first half with just 35 seconds left on the clock.
Faletto put HBU on the board less than six minutes into the second period, netting a header goal to the bottom left corner off a corner kick from
Darrell Johnson. Before the Huskies could find another goal and pull within striking distance, the Lopes' Marco Afonso again put GCU ahead by three. HBU freshman
Jordi Cobo picked up a yellow card in the 67
th minute and then picked up another card in the 71
st minute, resulting in a red and an ejection from the match, leaving the Huskies short-handed for the final 19:53. Even down a man,
Gianluca Natera managed to record his first collegiate goal at the 76:44 mark and make it 4-2. Musa Morris-Demos brought the match to its final 5-2 score in the 87
th minute for his second goal of the match.
The Huskies finished the match with 15 shots to the Lopes' 31 while Grand Canyon put 11 of those on goal, with HBU recording seven shots on goal. The Huskies earned six corner kicks to the Lopes' five. Faletto, now with two goals on the year, tied for the team-lead with two shots on goal with four total shots. Pope, in goal, finished with six saves while allowing five goals.
HBU will play its much delayed home opener on Thursday, Oct. 5, when the Huskies host UMKC in a WAC matchup at 7:00 p.m. at Sorrels Field.
