Kansas City
Grand Canyon
'Roos Dominate 'Lopes 2-0, Finish Home Stand Undefeated
10/20/2013 4:31:00 PM | Men's Soccer
(Kansas City, Mo.) - Kansas City men's soccer completed the season sweep of Grand Canyon on Sunday afternoon in dominating fashion with a 2-0 home win. The 'Roos out-shot the 'Lopes 19-6 in the game, and moved their unbeaten streak to four games.
Kansas City (4-5-4, 3-1-1 WAC) jumped on Grand Canyon (2-8-2, 1-3-0 WAC) from the start, and nearly went up 1-0 in the fifth minute when junior Jordan Rideout hit a ball across the goal mouth for sophomore Broc Cramer, but a GCU defender just barely got a piece of it to keep him from scoring.
In the 15th minute Cramer got his head on the end of a corner kick, but the ball struck the left post to keep it knotted at 0-0. The squads went into the half tied, while UMKC had an 8-3 advantage in shots and the majority of the possession.
Kansas City came out in the second half with even more of an attacking mentality as junior Michael Oakley put a header on frame in the 53rd minute that was saved by GCU goalkeeper Joshua Zehring, and another in the 62nd minute that was cleared off the line by a defender. Senior Guerrero Pino nearly got on the board about three minutes later when his shot from the right side hit the far post. Rideout knocked in the rebound but was called offside.
The 'Roos finally put one away in the 71st minute when freshman Clay Stewart hit an early cross into the box from the right side for a streaking Alioune Gueye on the near post. He got a boot on it and the ball deflected off a GCU defender and into the net. It was his first career goal for the 'Roos, as well as Stewart's first assist.
Grand Canyon's best chance of the game came in the 82nd minute when Gerrit Thomes hit a shot off the right post from 12 yards out, but UMKC got the clinching goal just three minutes later at the 84:21 mark. UMKC goalkeeper Chris McGaughey came out to pick off a cross from GCU and alertly played a quick line-drive punt down the left sideline for Tato Chiaparro, who cut it inside and played it across the top of the 18 for senior Tom McCarthy. He made a move to the left and struck a firecracker into the left side of the net for his first of the season.
UMKC finished the match with a 7-0 advantage in shots on goal, while McGaughey was not forced to make a save in earning his second shutout of the season. The Kansas City offense continued to stay hot, scoring two goals for the fourth straight game.
The 'Roos will hit the road next up, going to UNLV on Friday night, before facing Bakersfield on Sunday afternoon.
Players Mentioned
