The Grand Canyon Antelopes men's soccer program represents Grand Canyon University (GCU) in all NCAA Division I men's college soccer competitions. Founded in 1985, the Antelopes most recently competed in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) from 2013 to 2025. In 2026, the Lopes will move to the school's primary athletic home of the Mountain West Conference (MW). GCU plays its home matches at GCU Stadium.
When the athletic department joined the MW in most sports, the school announced that the men's soccer program would remain in the WAC as an affiliate member. The MW will add men's soccer in 2026 with GCU as one of the league's inaugural members.
NCAA Tournament history
After transitioning from NCAA Division II to Division I, GCU was eligible for the Division I postseason for the first time in 2017. The Lopes qualified for the NCAA Tournament in just their second season of Division I eligibility, winning the Western Athletic Conference Men's Soccer Tournament in 2018 behind three consecutive 1–0 shutout victories.Going Dancing: GCU men's soccer team makes history
Grand Canyon qualified for the NCAA Tournament seven times at the Division II level, highlighted by a Division II National Championship in 1996.NCAA Division II Men's Soccer History
GCU advanced in the NCAA Tournament for the first time at the Division I level on Nov. 20, 2025, drawing UCLA and advancing 3–1 in penalty kicks. GCU recorded its first winning result in an NCAA Tournament match just days later at San Diego.
Season Round Opponent Score2018First roundUC Irvine1–1 (lost in )2020First roundWashington 0–22021Second roundDenver 0–1 2025First round UCLA0–0 (won in (p)) Second round No. 9 San Diego 2–1 Third Round No. 8 Portland 0–1
Facility history
The Lopes played at GCU Soccer Field up until the construction of GCU Stadium. GCU played its inaugural season in the new facility in 2016. Since the opening of the facility, GCU has ranked in the top 10 in average attendance per match in 2016 and 2018, getting significant fan support from the university's student section, the Havocs.
GCU Stadium hosted its first game on August 26, 2016, when GCU defeated UCF 4–2. The crowd of 6,402 fans was the ninth-largest crowd in the 2016 NCAA Division I men's soccer season.2016 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Attendance Record Book
GCU hosted the fourth-largest crowd of the 2018 NCAA Division I men's soccer season when it opened the season by defeating Wisconsin 2–1 in front of 6,648 fans.2018 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer largest single-game crowds
Notable seasons
2018 The 2018 team qualified for the program's first ever NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Tournament by going 3–0 in the WAC Tournament.
GCU finished as the nation's most improved defense, ranking 181st nationally in goals against average in 2017 before jumping to 25th in 2018.
The Lopes finished the season 5–0 against top-25 opponents, defeating No. 12 Wisconsin, No. 20 Creighton, No. 25 Seattle U, and Air Force twice, once as No. 8 and once as No. 13.Season of bests, firsts
1996 Grand Canyon won the NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Championship by defeating Seattle Pacific, Lynn and Oakland.
Seasons
Coaching history GCU has had seven head coaches in its program history.GCU Men's Soccer Coaching History
YearsCoachOverallConferenceGPWLTPct.GPWLTPct.1985–92Peter Duah140864410.6501993–2014Petar Draksin43722517141.5622015–20Schellas Hyndman10345499.4815825267.4912021Leonard Griffin201541.77511920.8182022–23Mike Kraus3514156.48617674.4712024–25George Kiefer4119148165742026– Jamie Davies 0 0 0 0 — 0 0 0 0 —Totals7764042977531717611229
Notable alumni Matheau Hall, professional soccer player Niki Jackson, Colorado Rapids and 2018 MLS SuperDraft pick Hector Montalvo, Tigres UANL Saeed Robinson, Colorado Springs Switchbacks Amer Sasivarevic, OKC Energy FC and 2018 MLS SuperDraft pick (program's first MLS SuperDraft pick) Evan Waldrep, Phoenix Rising FC Esai Easley, Sporting Kansas City and 2022 MLS SuperDraft pick Justin Rasmussen, Portland Timbers and 2022 MLS SuperDraft pick
References
External links