Senior Day Statement: Lopes roll past Utah 55-5

A dominant home finale from start to finish.

A resounding 55-5 victory over the University of Utah capped off the final home match of the season for Grand Canyon University Men’s Rugby on Saturday at the GCU Soccer Stadium. With consistent scoring and strong offensive pressure, the Lopes controlled the match from start to finish. The win left the Lopes with a 4-4 record at home this season.

The match began evenly at midfield, but the Lopes never looked back after GCU’s Lewis Case punched in the opening try. Three minutes later, senior Lachlan Jackson found the try zone, and two successful conversions from Luke Neely gave the Lopes a 14-0 lead in the first 10 minutes. A try from Danny Callahan expanded the lead, followed by a clean passing sequence that resulted in Case touching down for his second try of the day. Utah answered late in the half, but GCU responded quickly with a try from Dylan Mercer, giving the Lopes a 33-5 lead at halftime.

“It was a well-played first half, but I expect more in the second,” said GCU Head Coach Sean O’Leary. “I know there’s more in them.”

In the second half, the Lopes brought the cleanliness and aggression that their coach was hoping for. Tries early on from La’au Maka and Gavin Oleson boosted both the bench and crowd, and that energy carried through the rest of the match. Big runs and strong attacking play helped GCU extend the lead, many of them coming from senior Marcus Terzoli, who finished with two tries and three conversions overall. Despite injuries and substitutions, the Lopes held the Utes from scoring again.

The match also served as Senior Day, and the performance made it a special occasion honoring Jackson, Neely, Callahan, Mercer, Terzoli, Jackson Gray, Dane Needham, Liam Osborn, Danny Sanchez, and Will Stranberg.

“Everything was better in the second half. We did exactly what we wanted,” said O’Leary. “Most importantly, we played in a way that honored our seniors.”

The Lopes will carry that momentum into their final scheduled match on March 7 against Utah Valley University in Utah. The last time the teams met, GCU earned an 87-0 victory, and they look to finish the season strong on the road.