TUCSON, Ariz. — Gio Calixtro converted on an early opportunity and FC Tucson added a second goal in the first half Saturday to come away with its first victory of the 2022 preseason.
FC Tucson picked up the 2-1 win over Grand Canyon University at Kino North Complex.
“”I’m just really happy with the collective effort,” said FC Tucson head coach Jon Pearlman. “We’re growing and I’m real happy with where we are. No injuries, getting our fitness in. That’s the key part of it.”
Grand Canyon University is Arizona’s only Division I men’s soccer team. The Antelopes are defending Western Athletic Conference regular season champions and have had scrimmages this spring with the US Men’s National Team, Real Salt Lake, Louisville City City FC, Colorado Springs Switchbacks and, last week, Phoenix Rising FC.
FC Tucson played a mixture of its starting lineup and trialists for the first 60 minutes.
Calixtro got FC Tucson on the board in the eighth minute when he punched in a cross from Tarn Weir.
Tarn ➡️ Gio
— FC Tucson (@FCTucson) March 12, 2022
And net.
Up 1-0 early.@calixtrogio91 | @tarnweir pic.twitter.com/lrB0EX7RRc
FC Tucson added a second goal in the 35th minute when one of the trialist took a through ball that Daniel Bedoya threaded through the defense, and banged it inside the near post at a tight angle.
After missing the chance to make it three with a missed penalty kick in the first half, FC Tucson made wholesale lineup changes in the the 60th minute. Grand Canyon capitalized in the waning moments of the game, getting a penalty called on a breakaway and converting to cut the deficit in half.
FC Tucson will close out the preseason with a pair of games: against defending NCAA Division I runner-up University of Washington on Tuesday, March 22 at 11 a.m., and then NJCAA Division II National Champion Pima Community College on Saturday, March 26 at noon. The regular season kicks off in Virginia against the Richmond Kickers on Saturday, April 2.
