'Lopes Defeated in Season Opener

Thursday, September 1

Pomona, CA

11 a.m.

Grand Canyon

Cal Poly Pomona

Chelsea Santos

9/1/2011 1:32:00 PM | Women's Soccer

By: Joel Horn

The Grand Canyon University women's soccer team lost to Cal Poly Pomona, 4-2, in its 2011 season opener today at Kellogg Field in Pomona, Calif.

GCU took a 1-0 lead in the 26th minute when freshman midfielder Chelsea Santos (Ajax, Ontario, Canada) dropped the ball back to the top of the 18-yard box and junior midfielder Sasha Scott (West Hills, CA, El Camino Real) found the back of the net on a long shot from the center of the box.

The Broncos tied the score three minutes later when freshman midfielder Alison Sauve took a throw-in from the left side from senior forward Valerie Strawn, took the ball into the box and shot it over the head of Antelopes senior goalkeeper Stephanie Phillips (Tempe, AZ , Corona Del Sol , Washington State University).

Cal Poly Pomona scored again in the 33rd minute. Junior forward Angela Garcia had a breakaway after taking a through pass from Strawn and shot the ball between Phillips' legs.

GCU tied the game at 2 in the 45 minute when junior midfielder Marina Nesic (Koceljeva, Serbia, Nada Dimic Zemun), the reigning Pacific West Conference Player of the Year, took a free kick from the left side from about 26 yards that went over the head of Broncos sophomore goalkeeper Sara Rohman.

Cal Poly Poma took the lead for good in the 74 minute when freshman forward Aneska Alino received a sliding pass from the left corner from Garcia and made a sliding shot from up close.

The Broncos' final goal was scored in the 78th minute. Junior midfielder Cindy Paez received a short pass from senior midfielder/forward Jenifer Rivera at the right side of the 18-yard box and made a long shot.

The 'Lopes had a 26-20 advantage in shots in the game. Cal Poly Pomona had a 6-3 edge in corner kicks.

Rohman recorded 11 saves, Phillips five. The Broncos were whistled for 13 fouls, GCU five.

Cal Poly Poma finished the 2010 season with a record of 7-8-3 overall, 5-8-3 in the California Collegiate Athletic Conference.

GCU is predicted to come in second place in the PacWest after historic 2010 season in which they finished with a record of 11-5-1 overall, 9-4-1 in the PacWest, and were ranked No. 9 in the West Region in both the final regular-season NCAA Division II poll and the final regular-season National Soccer Coaches Association of America vote. They finished in second place in the PacWest last year.

The 'Lopes have two more games on their season-opening, three-game road trip to California. They play at Cal State LA at 7 p.m. on Saturday and Cal State Dominguez Hills at 2 p.m. on Tuesday.

Last season, Cal State LA finished with a record of 15-4-1 overall, 13-3-0 in the CCAA and won the South division. The Golden Eagles were ranked No. 23 in the 2011 National Soccer Coaches Association of America Division II Preseason Poll.

Cal State Dominguez Hills finished the 2010 season with a record of 12-5-1 overall, 10-5-1 in the CCAA and were third in the South division.

GCU's 2011 home opener is against PacWest arch rival Dixie State at 5:45 p.m. on Sept. 17.

Cal Poly Pomona 4, GCU 2

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