Lopes end 2016 in 1-1 tie at CSUB

Saturday, October 29

Bakersfield, Calif.

7:00 p.m.

Grand Canyon

7-9-2, 3-2-2WAC

CSU Bakersfield

8-9-2, 4-2-1WAC

OT 3

OT 4

Grand Canyon W

CSU Bakersfield

10/29/2016 10:30:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: Imani Suber

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- The Grand Canyon women's soccer team concluded its 2016 campaign in a 1-1 tie against CSU Bakersfield Saturday night. In a double overtime finish, the Lopes dominated CSUB in the shots category, outshooting the 'Runners 23-to-5. GCU's stiffing defense continued to stand strong as they allowed just five shots through 110 minutes of action.

With the 1-1 tie, the Lopes tied with UMKC for the No.3 spot in the Western Athletic Conference regular season standings. The Lopes finish the season a place up from their fourth place finish in 2015.

How it Happened:
With both teams jockeying for the second spot in the WAC, the match was aggressive from the start. CSUB took the early lead and scored in the 11th minute after capitalizing on a corner kick opportunity. The Lopes initially blocked the shot directly off the corner kick but the Roadrunners pushed the rebounded ball into the net to take the lead 1-0. GCU had several opportunities to convert points and rattled off 10 shots in the up tempo match forcing CSUB's Jen Pedilla to layout for seven saves. Although Milla Benedetti and McKenzie Cook had shot attempts that nearly missed the net, the Lopes ended the half down 1-0.

The second half started just as aggressively as the first. After getting tangled up in the box, the Lopes were awarded a penalty kick and Maria Monterroso converted the kick to even the score at 1-1 in the 50th minute. GCU continued to pressure on offense adding 10 more shots to the total, but the Lopes and Roadrunners went toe-for-toe throughout the rest of regulation to force overtime.

In overtime, both offenses took it up a notch. The Lopes got their best shot at securing a goal when both Cook and Benedetti rattled off back-to-back shots that were barely cleared out of the goal box by a pair of CSUB defenders standing in for their goal keeper who was temporarily out of the box. The 'Runners answered as they flew down the field with a minute left to try and maximize one last possession, but Blakely Fraasch and the Lopes backline refused to yield and held off the 'Runners to end the match in a 1-1 tie.

Lopes Quotes:
Head coach Derek Leader
(On the team's performance)
"We played a very tough CSUB team tonight and played very well. We are pleased to end the season ranked third in the WAC and look forward to building on our accomplishments."

(On the team's overall progress this season)
"I'm very pleased with the growth of our team. The girls continued to develop their game and I'm proud of the improvement we showed over the course of the season."