The Grand Canyon University women's soccer team was riding high entering today's contest against Notre Dame de Namur in Belmont, Calif. It had a 5-1-0 overall record, 3-0-0 in the Pacific West Conference, and a No. 6 ranking in the National Soccer Coaches Association's NCAA Division II West Region poll. It had outscored its first three opponents on this four-game, eight-day trip to the Bay Area by a combined score of 11-2, and was on a four-game winning streak.
Make it five.
The Antelopes defeated the Argonauts 2-1 and are flying home tonight in first place in the Pacific West Conference, two games ahead of second-place BYU-Hawaii, which they will face in their next game on Sept. 30 at the GCU Soccer Field. They lead the conference in points (50) and goals (21), and are second in assists (9).
Despite the impressive credentials, GCU didn't expect NDNU (4-3-0, 2-1-0) to roll over tonight, and as the 28 fouls, five yellow cards and one red card issued in the game attest, it didn't.
Junior defender/forward
Julia Anglin (Goodyear, AZ/Desert Edge, Scottsdale CC) scored her fourth goal of the season -- the second-most in the conference, behind teammate Marina Nesic -- in the 22nd minute on a header that was bobbled by the keeper. All of Anglin's goals were scored on this trip -- the game-winner in the 2-1 overtime win at Dominican on Thursday, two at Academy of Art on Monday and the one vs. Notre Dame de Namur tonight.
Sophomore defender
Milica Mihajlovic (Novi Sad, Serbia/Chemistry School) was credited with an assist on Anglin's goal. It was Mihajlovic's first point as a 'Lope.
In the 72nd minute, the strong-legged Mihajlovic scored her first goal for GCU on a penalty kick to make the score 2-0. It remained that was until there were just 56 seconds remaining in the game, when K.C. O'Shea kicked in a rebound off of a free kick. It spoiled the shutout for junior goalkeeper
Stephanie Phillips (Tempe, AZ/Corona del Sol, Washington State University). It would have been her second shutout of the season, tying her with NDNU's Kelsey Baxter for the second most in the PacWest.
Phillips made nine saves in the game, eight of them in the second half, and got the win.
The Argos had 17 shots, five more than GCU, and had a 4-2 advantage in corner kicks.
Sophomore midfielder
Sasha Scott (West Hills, CA/El Camino Real) was issued the red card in today's game and must sit out the BYU-Hawaii game on Sept. 30.
Box score
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