PHOENIX – Ishmail Nieves curled his left boot around the ball and struck a beautifully placed shot into the upper left corner of the net to lead LMU to a 1-0 road win over future West Coast Conference foe Grand Canyon on Monday night in Phoenix.  

 

Nieves's wonderful strike was the first shot on target for the Lions in the match. 

 

A long ball was played down the right wing to Daniel Idiakhoa. Idiakhoa dribbled to his right and toward the endline before trying to send a ball across the box. The ball was blocked and fell kindly to him as he nodded it to the feet of Nieves. Nieves used a deft left-foot touch to gather and then one more to set his sights on goal. The ball curled perfectly into the top left corner of the goal as Nieves wheeled away in celebration. It was his second tally of the season.  

 

The defense would not be outshone by Nieves's brilliance, however.  

 

Ky Mani Dade notched his second clean sheet of the season with four top notch saves. The Lions needed him to step up in multiple one-on-one situations and he stonewalled the Antelopes offense every time he was called upon.  

 

Nathan Rodrigues, Braden Fidelak, Nieves and Tyler Trusner formed a defensive bloc that was difficult for the Antelopes attack to break down. The center back pairing of Fidelak and Rodrigues were once again chasing balls into the corner, making clearances, and intercepting the dangerous balls into the box.  

 

Anthony Wilson was inches away from doubling the Lions lead early in the second half, but his low, curling effort hit the inside of the post and his rebound attempt went over the bar.  

 

LMU will be back in the friendly confines of Sullivan Field on Saturday, September 29 in their West Coast Conference opener against Gonzaga. The Lions escaped Spokane, Wash. a year ago with a 1-0 victory courtesy of Nacho Macias's winner. Tickets are available on LMULions.com and the match will be live streamed on ESPN+.