Lopes Cook up OT win, advance to semifinals

Wednesday, November 1

Phoenix, Ariz.

7 PM

Grand Canyon

6-12-2, 2-4-1

UTRGV

9-8-3, 4-2-1

Team	1	2	OT 2	Final F
UT Rio Grande Valley	0	1	0	1
Grand Canyon	1	0	1	2

11/1/2017 9:44:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Junior forward scores twice to advance GCU

By: Sarah Woodward

PHOENIX, Ariz. – McKenzie Cook netted a pair of goals to keep the Lopes alive in their first postseason Western Athletic Conference tournament appearance, as the Grand Canyon women's soccer team defeated UT-Rio Grande Valley, 2-1, in overtime to advance to the semifinal round. The Lopes made history tonight at the GCU Stadium, as they are the first GCU team in to claim a victory in a postseason event since Grand Canyon completed the transition to Division I.

The Lopes advanced to 6-12-2 overall on the year, while the Vaqueros fell to 9-8-3 to end the 2017 campaign.

"We're thrilled to be moving on after winning our first postseason match," head coach Derek Leader said.

"It was a tough one for sure, but we were resilient. I'm proud of the ladies and their efforts."

A junior forward, Cook claimed her first score under five minutes into the contest as she created space outside the 18-yard box and fired a shot to the left side of the Vaqueros' keeper from 25 yards out.

The Lopes kept the Vaqueros scoreless through the first 89 minutes and 56 seconds, until UTRGV was fouled in the box and netted a penalty kick to tie it up and force the overtime period.

Once again within the first five minutes, Cook came to the rescue in the 95th minute, as she took the ball from outside the box and dibbled before slotting it past the keeper for the game-winner. Senior forward Emma Cain was awarded the assist on the final goal.

Cook tallied a team-best three shots on the night, all three on frame, while Cain had two attempts with one on frame. UTRGV tallied a game-leading 10 shots on the night.

Senior goalkeeper Blakely Fraasch made four saves on the night.

With the victory, GCU advances to face No. 2 Utah Valley on Friday night at 7 p.m. in the semifinal round. #1 Kansas City and #4 Seattle U will square off just before, kicking off at 4 p.m.