{"id":928762,"date":"2026-10-11T07:48:09","date_gmt":"2026-10-11T07:48:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/928762\/"},"modified":"2026-10-11T07:48:09","modified_gmt":"2026-10-11T07:48:09","slug":"3-goal-1st-half-sends-gcu-win-streak-to-5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/928762\/","title":{"rendered":"3-goal 1st half sends GCU win streak to 5"},"content":{"rendered":"

DAVIS, Calif. \u2013 Grand Canyon’s momentum and level of play keeps getting higher as the campaign moves on. GCU extended its winning streak to five matches with a 3-1 victory at UC Davis, where the Lopes scored\u00a0three first-half goals Saturday.<\/p>\n

News and notes<\/p>\n


\n\tGCU moves to 7-5 overall and 4-0\u00a0in Mountain West play. The squad’s 12 standings points lead the conference, three up on UNLV, which it beat two weeks ago.
\n\tThe Lopes scored three first-half goals, including\u00a0junior forward Alan Hermitte<\/a> scoring\u00a0in the first half for the second straight contest. GCU has outscored its opposition 12-3 in the first half this season.
\n\tGCU junior defender Liam Harrington<\/a> scored his first career goal 15 minutes after Hermitte’s goal to put the Lopes up 2-0. Senior midfielder Jorge Lopez<\/a>, who entered the night second in the nation in assists (eight), scored a goal\u00a0just before the halftime buzzer.
\n\tLopes fifth-year goalkeeper Beltran Fernandez<\/a> made a season-best five saves, giving him\u00a010 saves over his last three matches. <\/p>\n

“Great team performance on the road tonight,” GCU head coach Jamie Davies<\/a> said.\u00a0“There are a lot of positives to take from that on both sides of the ball. It’s great to be able to win while also knowing we can still keep improving. This team continues to grow.”<\/p>\n

Playing UC Davis (1-7-4, 1-2-1 MW) for the first time since 2014, it took seven minutes for the game’s first goal via Hermitte. Like his goal against San Jos\u00e9 State, Hermitte found space on the left side from about 15 yards out and sent a hard, line-drive shot toward the upper 90 of the net. Freshman defender Bradley De Jesus<\/a> assisted him on the score for his second assist in three games.<\/p>\n

GCU took seven first-half shots, but arguably the most special was off the foot of Harrington in the 23rd minute. The New York native made his 32nd career start and 45th appearance for the Lopes’\u00a0back line. The mainstay only was missing a goal on his resume.<\/p>\n

That goal came when Harrington, 20 yards out from net with open space, sent a one-timer with the right foot to the left side of the net past an outstretched keeper. Fellow defenseman Bildad Abonga<\/a> added his second assist of the season, while freshman Jo\u00e3o Gon\u00e7alinho recorded his sixth assist,\u00a0second only to Lopez on the squad.<\/p>\n

Fernandez was active in net, seeing 11 shots with six on goal. He kept the match 1-0 with a fingertip save over the crossbar in the 19th minute to highlight another game that the Lopes’ defensive side kept its opponent to one goal or none\u00a0for the sixth consecutive contest.<\/p>\n

Lopez did not add to his assist tally but scored his second goal of the season with seconds to spare in the first half. Lopez gathered a deflected shot and hit nothing but net, finishing the shot and celebrating with Hermitte for a 3-0 halftime advantage.<\/p>\n

GCU finished with 11 shots and eight shots on goal, extending its streak of double-digit shot totals to 12.<\/p>\n

UC Davis’ lone goal came in the 60th minute via penalty kick. Fernandez made three second-half stops in a long second half with five\u00a0yellow cards.<\/p>\n

GCU returns home for two consecutive matches, beginning Wednesday versus Air Force for Military Appreciation Night at GCU Stadium.<\/p>\n

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