Lopes open WAC play vs. Seattle U, Utah Valley

FRIDAY, OCT. 7
7 p.m. MST \| Championship Field \| Seattle, Wash.
SEATTLE U RED HAWKS 5-5-1 (0-0 WAC) GAME NOTES	vs.	GRAND CANYON LOPES 4-7-0 (0-0 WAC) GAME NOTES
LIVE STATS \| LIVE VIDEO
	GCU
SUNDAY, OCT. 9
12 p.m. MST \| GCU Stadium \| Phoenix, Ariz.
UTAH VALLEY WOLVERINES 6-4-1 (0-0 WAC) GAME NOTES	at	GRAND CANYON LOPES 3-6-0 (0-0 WAC) GAME NOTES
LIVE STATS \| LIVE VIDEO

PHOENIX- The Grand Canyon women's soccer team will kick off Western Athletic Conference play this week as they travel to Seattle U on Friday, Oct. 7 and return home to host Utah Valley on Sunday, Oct. 9 in its conference home opener.

After enjoying the week off, the Lopes will look to build on their solid performance against the Wolverines and CSU Bakersfield.

GCU Notables

GCU defeated CSUB 2-1 at GCU Stadium on Friday, Sept. 23 and fell to Utah Valley 3-2 in overtime, on Monday Sept. 26.
The Lopes used two second-half goals both from McKenzie Cook in the team's victory over the Roadrunners. The Lopes backline also held CSUB to just two shots.
GCU put up a good fight at Utah Valley in the squads 2-1 OT loss. Despite giving up an early goal in the opening minutes, the Lopes were not rattled, playing hard the rest of the way. The Lopes got the equalizer before halftime from Milla Benedetti to even the score at 1-1. The Wolverines claimed the match in OT.
Benedetti continues to lead the team with five goals.
The Lopes are now 3-2 at home.

Scouting Seattle

Seattle U is currently 5-5-1 this season. The Red Hawks have split their last pair of contests with a 2-1 OT loss to Cal Poly and stunned Utah Valley in a 1-0 victory in a non-conference contest.
Seattle U's Isabelle Butterfield and Stephanie Spiekerman swept Western Athletic Conference Players of the Week honors.
Butterfield was named offensive player of the week after netting the game winning goal against Utah Valley. Spiekerman earned defensive POW honors after shutting out Utah Valley and anchoring a backline that held the Wolverines to just six shots. CSUB also defeated Presbyterian college, 4-0 in the team's lone shutout earlier this season.
The Red Hawks have registered five shutouts on the season and pick up wins against Texas, Boise State and Gonzaga.

Scouting Utah Valley

Utah Valley is currently 6-4-1 this season. The Wolverines were shutout 1-0 by Seattle U in a non-conference match last weekend.
Utah Valley fell to Seattle U after being out-shot 14-6, which included a 4-2 advantage on goal.
The Wolverines currently boasts a 14 match unbeaten home streak.
Utah Valley have picked up road wins against Texas and No.22 Oklahoma this season.

Seattle Series History Notables

The Lopes will meet Seattle U for the 13th time in program history.
The Red Hawks lead the all-time series at 1-11-0.
Last season the Lopes fell to Seattle U in a 3-2 outcome at Championship Field.
Seattle had not allowed a goal in the previous five matches and the Lopes were able to fire off 14 shots and score two goals against the Seattle defense.

Utah Valley Series History Notables

The Lopes will meet Utah Valley for the eighth time in program history.
Utah Valley leads the all-time series at 2-5-0.
The Lopes will host the Wolverines for the second consecutive year on Sunday.
Two weeks ago the Lopes were edged out by Utah Valley in a 3-2 overtime outcome at Clyde Field.
Despite giving up an early goal in the opening minutes, GCU got the equalizer before halftime from Milla Benedetti to even the score at 1-1.
GCU nearly ended the match in the 96th minute as Joanna Lagunas beat her defender and fired off a shot that was only kick-saved by the UVU keeper.
The Wolverines got the game winning goal from Alexis Peterson in the 98th minute, just past the outstretched reach of Blakely Fraasch.

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Players Mentioned

Milla Benedetti

McKenzie Cook

Blakely Fraasch

Joanna Lagunas

Grand Canyon University Athletics