Women’s Soccer Caps Off Perfect 2-0 Weekend

Sunday, October 11

Phoenix, Ariz.

1 p.m.

Grand Canyon

6-6-2

Kansas City

8-5-1

UMKC

Grand Canyon

10/11/2015 3:37:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: Steven Gonzalez

PHOENIX – To close out the weekend, the Grand Canyon women's soccer team faced Missouri-Kansas City (8-4-1). In their first weekend at home in the WAC, the Antelopes defeated UMKC for the first time in school history for a 2-1 late game thriller. GCU is now 6-6-2 this season.

"We set the tone early in the game today against an excellent UMKC team," head coach Stevie Gill said. "We looked dangerous throughout the game and we were very well organized in the backline with (Madison) Cox and (Jessica) Valadez."

GCU has now won back-to-back matches for the first time since Aug. 28 this year when they defeated Northern Arizona and Colorado State. It is also the first time GCU has went 2-0 in a weekend in conference since Nov. 1, 2014 with two straight victories over CSU Bakersfield.

The Lopes started fast in the match firing off six shots in the first 15 minutes of play. Cassie Beckwith picked up right from where she left off on Friday night scoring in the 15^th minute. Beckwith had three shots in the first 15 minutes and her third shot gave GCU the 1-0 lead as the senior was able to dribble from 30-yards out into the box capitalizing on a one-on-one opportunity.

Beckwith ended the weekend with two goals, 18 shots and 11 on goal in two games.

"Cassie (Beckwith) and Milla (Benedetti) worked exceptionally hard," Gill said.

GCU's backline played exceptional in the first 45 minutes of play not allowing a single shot on goal. This season, UMKC has averaged 8.8 shots in the first half and the Lopes held the Kangaroos to just five shots.

This was the first time GCU has scored a goal in the first half in back-to-back matches.

UMKC started the second half controlling possession looking to even the score and Reighan Childers delivered in the 69^th minute. Reighan would score from 40-yards out to even the score with 20 minutes left.

Looking for that late goal to put the Lopes on top, Gill made a substitution putting in Martine Gjennestad in the 79^th minute and the senior would deliver.

"I told myself before the season that I had to score a goal this season" Gjennestad said and she delivered.

Kelsey Smith controlled possession and instead of crossing the ball into the box, Smith laid it off for Gjennestad from 20-yards out where the senior was able to bend it far-post in the upper-90 for her first career goal at GCU.

"It feels amazing because we knew how important this game was because this weekend was going determine our season going forward," the native of Norway said. "We had a rough start in the WAC so to get two wins this weekend is big for us."

After a weekend at home, Grand Canyon will be back on the road next weekend for a WAC roadtrip against Utah Valley and Seattle.