Cook's two goals send Lopes past CSU Bakersfield

Friday, September 23

Phoenix, Ariz.

7:00 p.m.

Grand Canyon

4-6-0

CSU Bakersfield

3-7-1

CSUB

Grand Canyon

Photo by: Darryl Webb

9/23/2016 9:42:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Photo Gallery

By: Josh Hauser

PHOENIX - The Grand Canyon women's soccer team used two second-half goals -- both from sophomore forward McKenzie Cook -- to defeat CSU Bakersfield at GCU Stadium on Friday night. GCU used a combination of Cook's two goals and a stout defense which limited the Roadrunners to just two shots.

Grand Canyon (4-6-0) capped off the home non-conference slate with the victory while CSU Bakersfield (3-7-1) dropped its fifth game in its last six tries.

A slow-developing game featured just three combined shots in the first 30 minutes of the game for the Lopes and 'Runners. Milla Benedetti had the Lopes best scoring chance in the first half with her on target shot in the 22nd minute being saved by CSU Bakersfield goalkeeper Jen Padilla. Headers by Brylee Hawkins and Madison Cox in the waning minutes of the first half were also saved by Padilla.

GCU's keeper, Blakely Fraasch, had a save in the 29th minute on the Roadrunners' only shot of the first half.

Grand Canyon opened up the second half noticeably more aggressive and it paid off with Cook's first goal of the night in the 55th minute. A midfield pass from Jessica Valadez split a pair of CSU Bakersfield defenders, giving Cook a wide open path to the goal. The sophomore fired from the top of the 18-yard box, past a diving keeper to give the Lopes a 1-0 lead.

As the match shifted to the final 20 minutes, CSU Bakersfield knotted the score at one on just its second shot of the contest. Defender Karolina Karnsund delivered the leading pass to Sabrina Delgado, whose shot from the top of the 18-yard box was true.

Just over 10 minutes later, Grand Canyon scored the game-winning goal with under 10 minutes to play. A pass from Maria Monterroso found its way to Cook who once again had a one-on-one matchup with the keeper. In closer position this time, Cook's shot went right past the fingertips of the keeper into the center of the goal.

The Lopes stifling defense thwarted any potential scoring chance from CSU Bakersfield time and time again in the final minutes to secure the victory. The Roadrunners' two shots on the night was the fewest by a GCU opponent since the Lopes' transition to Division I. On October 20, 2011, the Lopes limited Academy of Art to just two shots as well.

Cook's multi-goal game was the first such game for a GCU player this season, and first multi-goal game for a GCU player since Deseree Doty (4) and Milla Benedetti (2) each had multi-goal games against Chicago State on October 9, 2015.

Grand Canyon wraps up non-conference play with a mid-day affair in Orem, Utah on Monday. The Lopes meet up with Utah Valley at noon.