 Lopes was raised in Newark, New Jersey and graduated from Saint Benedict's Preparatory School where he was a 1989 NSCAA High School All American soccer player.He then attended Rutgers University, playing on the men's soccer team from 1990 to 1994, starting all 86 games during his collegiate career.In 1990, Rutgers finished runner-up to the UCLA Bruins in the NCAA Men's Division I Soccer Championship.