Seven GSAC men’s soccer teams were in action during the opening week of the 2026 season, combining for 11 matches. La Sierra produced the conference’s lone unbeaten record, opening its season with a 4-0 victory over Bethesda, while OUAZ and Park Gilbert also picked up their first victories of the year. Fifteen matches are on the schedule for the week ahead as the conference continues nonconference play.
La Sierra highlighted the opening week with its 4-0 victory over Bethesda. Daniel Garcia scored twice as the Golden Eagles generated 24 shots, including 16 on goal. OUAZ bounced back from a season-opening 1-0 loss to Stanton with a 4-1 victory over Nelson (AZ), while Park Gilbert opened its season with a 4-1 win over Nelson (AZ) before falling 2-0 to Stanton. Olli Saksinen scored three times and Brody Donovan contributed a goal and two assists in Park Gilbert’s victory.
The first GSAC Men’s Soccer Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week will be announced Aug. 31.
Saksinen enters the week as the conference leader with three goals and seven points. Donovan leads the GSAC with two assists and is tied for the lead with one game-winning goal while ranking second with four points and six shots. Arizona Christian’s Raul Aranda leads the conference with seven shots, and La Sierra’s Carlos Leon has a GSAC-best five shots on goal. In goal, La Sierra’s Abraham Perez leads with a 0.00 goals-against average, OUAZ’s Jack Murdoch has a conference-best .833 save percentage and Park Gilbert’s Nicklas Lagesen leads with eight saves.
The GSAC has 15 matches scheduled between Thursday and Tuesday. OUAZ begins the week Thursday against Evergreen before facing Northwest on Saturday. The Master’s meets CSUN on Thursday and College of Idaho on Tuesday, while Embry-Riddle and Benedictine Mesa each face Southern Oregon and Oregon Tech over the weekend. La Sierra looks to build on its season-opening victory Sunday against Pacific Union. Park Gilbert hosts Caltech on Saturday and Justice on Tuesday, while Arizona Christian faces Nelson (AZ) on Friday.