Grand Canyon University’s men’s soccer team opened its season with a narrow 2‑1 defeat to No. 9 Stanford, a match that pitted two top‑25 programs against each other on opening day.
Stanford came out firing, rattling off three goals in the first 26 minutes of the second half while the Lopes struggled to create clear chances, finishing the game with a 16‑15 shot edge in favor of the Cardinal.
A Rocky Start for the Lopes
The deadlock was finally broken in the 62nd minute when Sabri Hanni found the net, the first goal of the season for the Lopes, assisted by Alhassan Alhassan, who also logged his inaugural collegiate assist.
Despite the late strike, Stanford reclaimed the lead in the 71st minute, sealing a 2‑1 final score. GCU will look to bounce back when it travels to face Sacramento State on Sunday, a game that will be streamed live on ESPN+.