SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA — Grand Canyon pulled off a stunning upset over ninth-ranked San Diego on Sunday, winning 2-1 in front of 1,511 fans in an NCAA Division I Championship match. The Lopes, ranked 14-3-5 on the season, struck twice to overcome the Toreros' early pressure and secure a dramatic victory that sends them deeper into the tournament.
Ben Assane Fall opened the scoring for Grand Canyon in the 5th minute, capitalizing on an assist from Xande Santos to give the visitors an early lead. The goal came against the run of play, as San Diego had dominated possession in the opening stages. Despite the Toreros' territorial advantage throughout the first half, they couldn't find the back of the net, leaving Grand Canyon in control heading into halftime.
San Diego came out aggressive after the break, searching for an equalizer. The pressure finally paid off when Iain Wagner equalized in the 66th minute, assisted by Jaxson Findlay, to level the match at 1-1. The goal energized the home crowd and seemed to shift momentum toward the ninth-ranked team, which had entered the match undefeated in its last two outings.
But Grand Canyon refused to fold. In the 88th minute, Junior Diouf delivered the decisive blow, with Felipe Cobian and Allan Rosales combining on the assist to restore the Lopes' lead. The late goal proved too much for San Diego to overcome, as the Toreros couldn't muster an immediate response in the final moments.
Grand Canyon's goalkeeper made six saves to preserve the victory, while San Diego's keeper was unable to keep the Lopes off the scoreboard. The visitors' defensive resilience in the second half, particularly after conceding the equalizer, was crucial to their success. Despite being outshot 16-6 overall and 7-2 on target, Grand Canyon's clinical finishing in key moments made the difference.
The Lopes' ability to score twice from limited opportunities showcased their attacking efficiency. Fall's early strike set the tone, while Diouf's late heroics demonstrated Grand Canyon's capacity to perform under pressure in tournament play. San Diego, meanwhile, struggled to convert its chances despite controlling large stretches of the match, a costly inefficiency against a team that capitalized on its limited opportunities.
This victory marks a significant moment for Grand Canyon, which enters the next round of the NCAA Championship. The Toreros, who had won their previous two matches before this contest, will need to regroup after the disappointing home loss. The match demonstrated that tournament soccer rewards clinical finishing and defensive discipline—two areas where Grand Canyon ultimately prevailed.
Grand Canyon's upset victory showcases the unpredictability of NCAA tournament soccer, where seeding and regular-season form can be overturned by a team executing when it matters most. The Lopes' two-goal performance from limited chances and their defensive composure after conceding an equalizer proved decisive in a tightly contested match. Grand Canyon who beat UCLA and now San Diego, they await the winner between Portland and Denver.