PHOENIX, Ariz. — Junior Nick Strangio scored his first goal as a Hornet to bring his team level in the first half, but a late penalty awarded to host Grand Canyon in the 84th minute was the difference as the Lopes turned away Sacramento State for a 2-1 win on Thursday night in Phoenix, Ariz.
The loss moved the Hornets to 0-2-1 overall on the season while GCU, which played the final 19 minutes a man down following a red card in the 71st minute to leading scorer Junior Diouf, remained undefeated on the year at 3-0.
Just a minute after the apparent go-ahead score was waved off due to an offside call, the Lopez sprung Ben Assane for a run down the far side where a Hornet defender was whistled for a foul in the box, bring Assane to the ground while trying to prevent a breakway attempt.
Alan Hermitte then stepped to the spot and put home the eventual game-winner to the upper right corner for the 2-1 lead.
With six minutes to try and find the tying score, Sacramento State had three solid looks at the equalizer. Freshman Allbranly Gue had a point-blank attempt stopped at the right side of the six off a corner and senior Hasan Alsakati got loose for a run down the left side, but his shot inside the 18 was deflected out for a throw with 29 seconds to play.
The Hornets had one more chance, but Sean Battistessa's shot from the right side in close just sailed high as time expired.
Both teams spent the start of the first half feeling one another out with Grand Canyon taking the first three shots of the match before Diouf put the home side ahead in the 27th minute.
Sacramento State wasted little time in tying up the match as Strangio found the back of the net for the first time as a Hornet six minutes later, scoring just 87 seconds after entering the match. Donovan Sessoms set up the score with a shot that was saved by the Lopes' keeper, but it fell right to Strangio, who cleaned up the rebound with the right foot to tie the score.
For Sessoms, it was his second assist in as many matches as he has now tallied a point in each of his team's first three contests on the year. It is the longest such streak by a Hornet since Cody Sundquist had a pair of goals and an assist in matches against Cal State Bakersfield, UC San Diego, and CSUN from Sept. 28-Oct. 5, 2022.
Grand Canyon held a 19-12 advantage in shots and a 7-5 lead in shots on goal, finishing the night with six of the seven corner attempts in the match. Ten different Hornets finished with shots on the night led by two each from Sessoms and freshman
Ronan Rattigan.
Goalkeeper
Lucas Bost finished with five saves on the night for Sacramento State — a new career high in the green and gold for the junior.
Sacramento State closes out the weekend at home on Sunday (Aug. 31) at 5 p.m., hosting Santa Clara at Hornet Soccer Field.
