Completed Event: Women's Soccer at Oregon on August 31, 2025 , Win , 2, to, 0
W Soccer
at Oregon
W 2-0
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Thursday, November 3
St. George, UT
3:30 p.m.
Grand Canyon
1
at
1 (2 OT)
Dixie State
Senior goalkeeper Stephanie Phillips recorded 12 saves.
Women's Soccer Clinches First NCAA Tournament Berth in Program's 16-Year History
11/3/2011 4:52:00 PM | Women's Soccer
History is made with 1-1 draw at Dixie State
The Grand Canyon University women's soccer team clinched the first NCAA tournament berth in the program's 16-year history with a 1-1, double-overtime draw with Dixie State College in a Pacific West Conference match today at Hansen Stadium in St. George, Utah.
The Antelopes, who are ranked No. 10 in the West Region in this week's official NCAA Division II poll and tied for No. 10 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America vote, moved to 9-5-3 overall, 8-2-2 in the PacWest..
The Red Storm, who lost 2-0 to GCU on Sept. 17 in Phoenix, are 7-7-2, 5-3-2 with one game left to play, against California Baptist on Saturday in Riverside, Calif..
California Baptist (13-2-1, 9-1-1) clinched the conference championship by defeating the 'Lopes 4-1 last Saturday at the GCU Soccer Field, but it cannot receive the PacWest's automatic qualifier for the NCAA tournament because it is in its first season at the Division-II level after moving up from the NAIA. The Lancers will not be eligible for postseason until their third year in D-II.
Therefore the first eligible team in the conference, i.e. the runner-up, earns the automatic qualifier.
BYU-Hawaii (11-3-1, 7-3-1) was in second place and had a chance to control its own destiny by winning its final two regular-season matches, both at home, against Hawai'i Pacific (10-5-2, 7-3-2) yesterday and Chaminade (1-15-0, 1-10-0) on Saturday.
But the Seasiders lost 2-0 to the Sea Warriors and had to rely on Dixie State to defeat GCU today and then hope they would win the tie-breaker between themselves and the 'Lopes, fewest goals allowed in conference games.
The 'Lopes just had to beat or tie the Red Storm in their regular-season finale today to clinch the tournament berth.
Mission accomplished, but it wasn't easy for Head Coach Stevie Gill and his team.
Dixie State got on the scoreboard first in the 65th minute when sophomore forward Mindi Beckstrom received an up-field pass from senior midfielder Jordyn Ross and shot the ball from 20 yards out on the right side. It was Beckstrom's fourth goal of the season.
Eight minutes later, GCU junior midfielder Marina Nesic (Koceljeva, Serbia, Nada Dimic Zemun), the 2010 PacWest Player of the Year, scored the equalizer on a rebound off a corner kick from 15 yards out on the right side, It was Nesic's 10th goal this year. She also has six assists for a total of 26 points.
The 2011 PacWest all-conference teams will be announced next week, and Nesic should be a shoe-in for the first team. Several other GCU players should receive strong consideration, as should Gill for conference Coach of the Year.
The Red Storm outshot the 'Lopes, 24-16, and had advantages of 16-10 in shots on goal and 4-3 on corner kicks.
Twenty fouls were called, 12 of them on GCU.
Both goalkeepers were outstanding. GCU senior Stephanie Phillips (Tempe, AZ, Corona Del Sol, Washington State University) recorded 12 saves, and Dixie State senior April Beck made nine.
"It is always nice to be considered one of the top teams in the conference and to move on to the playoffs," said Gill, who played on GCU's 1996 NCAA national championship team. "This was my goal when I took over the program a couple of years ago and finally we have accomplished that. Now we need to set our sights on next week's game. "
A quick look at the top of the PacWest standings shows just how close of a race this has been:
1. California Baptist* (9-1-1 PacWest, 13-2-1 overall)
2. GCU (8-2-2, 9-5-3)
3. Hawai'i Pacific (7-3-2, 10-5-2)
4. BYU-Hawai'i (7-3-1, 11-3-1)
* Ineligible for postseason and PacWest's automatic qualifier for NCAA tournament
"Cal Baptist is an excellent team, as well as Dixie," Gill said. "Dixie played great against us tonight and, to be honest with you, could have easily came away with the win."
The field of 48 teams that will compete in the 2011 Division II women's soccer tournament will be announced at 4 p.m. Arizona time on Nov. 7 on NCAA.com.
Today was the final regular-season game for GCU's five seniors -- Phillips, defender Holly Benson (Tempe, AZ, Corona del Sol), defender Kelli Woodard (Glendale, AZ, Deer Valley HS, University of San Francisco), forward/defender Julia Anglin (Goodyear, AZ , Desert Edge, Scottsdale Community College) and forward Jessica Brillantes (Anaheim, CA, Loara, Santiago Canyon College).
"We now need to regroup, refocus and play to our potential as anything can happen once you get out of your conference," Gill said.
GCU 1, Dixie State 1 (2 OT)
###
The Antelopes, who are ranked No. 10 in the West Region in this week's official NCAA Division II poll and tied for No. 10 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America vote, moved to 9-5-3 overall, 8-2-2 in the PacWest..
The Red Storm, who lost 2-0 to GCU on Sept. 17 in Phoenix, are 7-7-2, 5-3-2 with one game left to play, against California Baptist on Saturday in Riverside, Calif..
California Baptist (13-2-1, 9-1-1) clinched the conference championship by defeating the 'Lopes 4-1 last Saturday at the GCU Soccer Field, but it cannot receive the PacWest's automatic qualifier for the NCAA tournament because it is in its first season at the Division-II level after moving up from the NAIA. The Lancers will not be eligible for postseason until their third year in D-II.
Therefore the first eligible team in the conference, i.e. the runner-up, earns the automatic qualifier.
BYU-Hawaii (11-3-1, 7-3-1) was in second place and had a chance to control its own destiny by winning its final two regular-season matches, both at home, against Hawai'i Pacific (10-5-2, 7-3-2) yesterday and Chaminade (1-15-0, 1-10-0) on Saturday.
But the Seasiders lost 2-0 to the Sea Warriors and had to rely on Dixie State to defeat GCU today and then hope they would win the tie-breaker between themselves and the 'Lopes, fewest goals allowed in conference games.
The 'Lopes just had to beat or tie the Red Storm in their regular-season finale today to clinch the tournament berth.
Mission accomplished, but it wasn't easy for Head Coach Stevie Gill and his team.
Dixie State got on the scoreboard first in the 65th minute when sophomore forward Mindi Beckstrom received an up-field pass from senior midfielder Jordyn Ross and shot the ball from 20 yards out on the right side. It was Beckstrom's fourth goal of the season.
Eight minutes later, GCU junior midfielder Marina Nesic (Koceljeva, Serbia, Nada Dimic Zemun), the 2010 PacWest Player of the Year, scored the equalizer on a rebound off a corner kick from 15 yards out on the right side, It was Nesic's 10th goal this year. She also has six assists for a total of 26 points.
The 2011 PacWest all-conference teams will be announced next week, and Nesic should be a shoe-in for the first team. Several other GCU players should receive strong consideration, as should Gill for conference Coach of the Year.
The Red Storm outshot the 'Lopes, 24-16, and had advantages of 16-10 in shots on goal and 4-3 on corner kicks.
Twenty fouls were called, 12 of them on GCU.
Both goalkeepers were outstanding. GCU senior Stephanie Phillips (Tempe, AZ, Corona Del Sol, Washington State University) recorded 12 saves, and Dixie State senior April Beck made nine.
"It is always nice to be considered one of the top teams in the conference and to move on to the playoffs," said Gill, who played on GCU's 1996 NCAA national championship team. "This was my goal when I took over the program a couple of years ago and finally we have accomplished that. Now we need to set our sights on next week's game. "
A quick look at the top of the PacWest standings shows just how close of a race this has been:
1. California Baptist* (9-1-1 PacWest, 13-2-1 overall)
2. GCU (8-2-2, 9-5-3)
3. Hawai'i Pacific (7-3-2, 10-5-2)
4. BYU-Hawai'i (7-3-1, 11-3-1)
* Ineligible for postseason and PacWest's automatic qualifier for NCAA tournament
"Cal Baptist is an excellent team, as well as Dixie," Gill said. "Dixie played great against us tonight and, to be honest with you, could have easily came away with the win."
The field of 48 teams that will compete in the 2011 Division II women's soccer tournament will be announced at 4 p.m. Arizona time on Nov. 7 on NCAA.com.
Today was the final regular-season game for GCU's five seniors -- Phillips, defender Holly Benson (Tempe, AZ, Corona del Sol), defender Kelli Woodard (Glendale, AZ, Deer Valley HS, University of San Francisco), forward/defender Julia Anglin (Goodyear, AZ , Desert Edge, Scottsdale Community College) and forward Jessica Brillantes (Anaheim, CA, Loara, Santiago Canyon College).
"We now need to regroup, refocus and play to our potential as anything can happen once you get out of your conference," Gill said.
GCU 1, Dixie State 1 (2 OT)
###
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