Lopes kick off season at Eastern Washington

Friday, August 19

Cheney, Wash.

3:00 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Eastern Washington

8/17/2016 9:36:00 AM | Women's Soccer

By: Imani Suber

PHOENIX- Under first year head coach Derek Leader, the Grand Canyon women's soccer team will kick off the 2016-17 season Friday afternoon at Eastern Washington. Following Friday's match, the Lopes will continue their road swing and meet Idaho, Sunday afternoon.

GCU at Eastern Washington Friday, August 19 - 3 p.m. MST

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GCU at Idaho Sunday , August 21 - 12 p.m. MST

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GCU Notables

GCU welcomes back 22 returners and eight newcomers in 2016.
Blakely Fraasch and Milla Benedetti were tabbed preseason all-conference for the second straight season.
The Lopes were picked to finish fifth in the Western Athletic Conference preseason poll.
Last season Benedetti, led the team with 16 points, seven goals and 28 shots on goal. She also started 18-19 matches.
The Lopes will look to pick up a victory in the season opener for the second straight season.

Scouting Eastern Washington

EWU opens the 2016 campaign after one of the most successful seasons in program history. After producing a program best 12 wins, they finished third in the Big Sky conference.
The Eagles return 11 starters and welcome 10 newcomers and six freshman.
EWU was picked to finish second in the Big Sky in the conference preseason poll.
The Eagles also return junior forward Chloe Williams, who was named Big Sky Offensive Player of the Year in 2015. Last season, Williams' tallied 30 points through 19 games.

Scouting Idaho

The reigning Big Sky Champions finished 2015 on a 14-game unbeaten streak, the longest streak in the nation.
After finishing 2015, at 14-4-3 the Vandals return 11 starters and welcome 10 freshmen.
While nine Vandals earned All-Big Sky honors in 2015, Idaho returns senior forward Kavita Battan, who was named to the
National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Second Team All-Region. Battan produced 10 goals and led the team with 25 points in 2015.

Series History Notables

EWU

The Lopes will meet Eastern Washington for the first time in program history.

Idaho

GCU will meet the Vandals for the fourth time in program history. GCU leads the all-time series 2-1-0.
The last meeting came in 2014, where the Lopes defeated Idaho 2-1 at GCU Soccer Field.
The Vandals handed the Lopes a 3-1 loss the last time they were in Moscow, Idaho.