Lawson’s Late Half Header Leads CBU Over GCU

Sunday, October 12

Riverside, Calif.

5:00 PM

California Baptist University

6-2-3, 1-1-1

Grand Canyon University

8-3-1, 2-1-0

Grand Canyon

California Baptist

Photo by: Ella DuPree

Lawson’s Late Half Header Leads CBU Over GCU

10/12/2025 7:35:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

By: Matt Horrocks, Assistant Athletic Director of Communications and Digital Media

RIVERSIDE --- A crowd of 848 CBU Crazies bared witness to the Lancers' first conference win of the season, as a goal in the closing seconds of the first half paved the way for a 1-0 finish against Grand Canyon. The Lancers now have ones across the board, as they sit 1-1-1 in WAC action through three contests.

Grand Canyon (8-3-1, 2-1-0), which entered as the only WAC team to win each of its conference matches, is now 2-1-0 within the WAC.

"Tonight was an excellent performance and one we needed," said head coach Coe Michaelson. "The only disappointment is that we didn't score more, because our play merited it. The attitude, the mentality, and the energy were all exactly what we asked for tonight and a great representation of what we are capable of."

The opening half could be described as a defensive battle, with goalkeepers Hugo Do Rego (2) and Daniel Ibarra (4) combining for six saves. The scoreless stalemate was set to enter the locker room with zeroes on the board, but not before one last corner kick from the Lancers in the closing seconds of the half.

Tizian Marth set the ball down and whipped a cross into the box, subsequently finding the head of William Lawson, who netted his first goal of the season. The assist was Marth's second.

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The Lopes put the pressure on the Lancers in the second half, as they looked to escape Southern California with at least a draw. GCU registered four shot attempts in the closing half, three of which went on frame. However, a five-save performance from Do Rego wrapped up his third shutout of the year.

Defensively, the Lancers' game plan to stop the WAC's leading goal scorer, GCU's Junior Diouf, was played to perfection. Diouf, who entered with 11 goals on the season and three in WAC play, did not record a shot attempt in the loss. It was the first time all season Diouf failed to register a shot attempt.

"The whole group really put in a shift, including a few guys who haven't had as many opportunities but really took their chances tonight," added Michaelson. "Great team win."

With the Sunday victory, the Lancers stay unbeaten (3-0-2) on their home pitch.

The Lancers will take to the road for their next two matches, as a pair of visits to the Rocky Mountains await CBU. First up will be a trip to Orem to take on Utah Valley on October 18. The Lancers will conclude the trip on October 23 with a visit to the Air Force Academy.

CBU will return to the CBU Soccer Stadium on October 26 when they host Utah Tech. Tickets are on sale HERE.