Women's Soccer Scores Season-High Six Goals in Win over HPU

Tuesday, October 9

Phoenix, AZ

8:00 PM

Grand Canyon

Hawai'i Pacific

Samantha Bush

Photo by: Darryl Webb

Women's Soccer Scores Season-High Six Goals in Win over HPU

10/9/2012 11:06:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Bush leads the way with two scores

The Grand Canyon University women’s soccer team defeated Hawai’i Pacific, 6-1, tonight in Phoenix, Ariz. The ‘Lopes are now 6-4-2 overall and 5-1-2 in the Pacific West Conference, while the Sea Warriors fell to 3-7-1 overall and 2-4-1 in conference play.

The win was the third straight for GCU, as they also scored a season-high six goals, their most since scoring seven on Sept. 24, 2011 at Chaminade.

"I thought that we dominated the game in the second half and took our chances well by putting five goals in the back of the net," said head coach Stevie Gill. "The first half we came out very slow and dropped our intensity level and really couldn't connect passes or finish our chances. It was nice to see the intensity level improve in the second half and get the ball down and play. HPU is a talented team and worked very hard to the end to their credit. We now need to refocus our efforts to our game on Saturday evening as it is sure to be a competitive affair."

The ‘Lopes outshot the Sea Warriors by a margin of 22-15 and also had 11 shots on goal. Goalkeeper Cat Lena had six saves on the night, as she stopped six of seven shots on goal.

The Sea Warriors got on the board first with a goal in the 30^th minute. GCU responded with a goal of their own in the 34^th minute when Celia Myers found the back of the net on an assist from Veronica Nikas.

The ‘Lopes came out firing in the second half as they scored five goals and limited the Sea Warriors to just six shots.

Gabriella Zavala de Rojas got the scoring flurry going with a goal in the 55^th minute on an assist from Jessica Lincoln. Cierra Valdez was assisted by Sasha Scott in the 67^th minute to extend the lead to 3-1.

Scott was then awarded a penalty kick in the 76^th minute following a Hawai’i Pacific foul and successfully converted the shot.

Samantha Bush collected the next two goals of the game, the first in 80^th minute on an assist from Nicole Nsa and the second in the 88^th minute unassisted.

"It was nice to see so many of the girls get on the scoreboard in Celia, Sammy, Gabby and the goal of the match by our friend Cierra Valdez," added Gill.

GCU will next be in action when they wrap up their homestand with a game against Dominican (CA) on Saturday at 8 p.m. on the GCU Soccer Field.

GCU 6, HPU 1