Completed Event: Women's Soccer versus Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) on February 14, 2026 ,
W Soccer
vs Embry-Riddle (Ariz.)
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Friday, November 3
Phoenix, Ariz.
7 PM
Grand Canyon
6-13-2, 2-4-1
0
vs
1
Utah Valley
10-11-0, 5-2-0
| Team | 1 | 2 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utah Valley | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Grand Canyon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Women's soccer exits WAC on 1-0 loss
11/3/2017 10:17:00 PM | Women's Soccer, Paul Coro
Lopes shot 16 times on Utah Valley in semifinal's 2nd half
The Grand Canyon women's soccer players and staffers stood with arms wrapped around one another Friday night as they encircled the field's sideline "GCU," a name they represented so well for one final time together.
The Lopes dripped with the perspiration of effort and the disappointment of tears after their late-season rally ended in the WAC Tournament semifinals.
GCU lost 1-0 to Utah Valley in front of 881 fans at GCU Stadium, sending UVU to the WAC Championship against Seattle.
It was a familiar margin because the Lopes were so close to turning their fortunes so many times this season with seven previous 1-0 losses but the eyes told a truer story than the results page.
A Lopes team that had trouble creating scoring chances early in the season was relentless in Friday's second half. GCU put scare after scare into second-seeded Utah Valley, all the way to a corner kick in the final minute.
"I'm proud of the way we played and the way we came out in the second half," Lopes head coach Derek Leader said. "We really felt that we took it to them in the second half. We had our opportunities. We didn't put away our opportunities but we have grown tremendously from the beginning of the season. That doesn't help our seniors that are finished and done but the lessons we learned is amazing."
The Lopes appeared poised to win their third consecutive elimination game, especially in the second half with 16 shots. When the game was still scoreless in the 65th minute, GCU sophomore Anyssa De Vera had just entered the game when she created a chance with an upfield pass to Milla Benedetti racing down the middle. Benedetti got by UVU goalkeeper Brooklyn Nielsen but retreating UVU defender Linley Brown slid to take away some of the open-net angle and Benedetti's shot went oustide the near post.
On the ensuing play, Lopes junior defender Kelsey Smith's season ended earlier with a shoulder injury.
"We have so many young players on our young team so it's good to get them experience for their future," Smith said. "Unfortunately, it bounced the wrong way for us this year but I know we'll have more luck for us next year. Our season hasn't gone the way we planned but I think we went out with a bang."
The scoreless tie vanished in a blip with a quick strike from the UVU quick-tempo offense that GCU wanted to control. Wolverines senior Sydney Fitzpatrick had space and momentum to nicely set up junior Breanna McCarter, the only Wolverine playing in her home state. The Gilbert Highland High graduate cut through the box and redirected the ball to the net for the game's only goal.
From there, UVU staved off every Lopes challenge.
"It was definitely a fight," said senior goalkeeper Blakely Fraasch, a First Team All-WAC honoree. "We were all fighting from every end. From defense to midfield to forwards, you could tell everyone wanted and was working so hard. We almost had them too."
It was the final game for nine Lopes seniors but nine freshmen also picked up valuable experience Friday night.
"It's funny when you meet them on the first day and they're all timid and now we're joking around the locker room like we've known them for years," Fraasch said. "Seeing them develop on the field from Game 1 to now, they have more skills, got used to the game, higher pace. They're more into it and understand. They'll be good for next year.
"We've built it up. Teams know to fear us. We definitely have the mark started and they're going to build it."
For many of the GCU players, the finality had not hit them as they left the stadium locker room. It seemed like they were just in training camp and now a 21-game season is over.
The Lopes played like a more mature team in the WAC semifinals, switching systems throughout the game without a hiccup.
"I'm more impressed by the heart and fight and desire that I saw on the field," Leader said.
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Follow Paul Coro on Twitter: @paulcoro.
Â
The Lopes dripped with the perspiration of effort and the disappointment of tears after their late-season rally ended in the WAC Tournament semifinals.
GCU lost 1-0 to Utah Valley in front of 881 fans at GCU Stadium, sending UVU to the WAC Championship against Seattle.
It was a familiar margin because the Lopes were so close to turning their fortunes so many times this season with seven previous 1-0 losses but the eyes told a truer story than the results page.
A Lopes team that had trouble creating scoring chances early in the season was relentless in Friday's second half. GCU put scare after scare into second-seeded Utah Valley, all the way to a corner kick in the final minute.
"I'm proud of the way we played and the way we came out in the second half," Lopes head coach Derek Leader said. "We really felt that we took it to them in the second half. We had our opportunities. We didn't put away our opportunities but we have grown tremendously from the beginning of the season. That doesn't help our seniors that are finished and done but the lessons we learned is amazing."
The Lopes appeared poised to win their third consecutive elimination game, especially in the second half with 16 shots. When the game was still scoreless in the 65th minute, GCU sophomore Anyssa De Vera had just entered the game when she created a chance with an upfield pass to Milla Benedetti racing down the middle. Benedetti got by UVU goalkeeper Brooklyn Nielsen but retreating UVU defender Linley Brown slid to take away some of the open-net angle and Benedetti's shot went oustide the near post.
On the ensuing play, Lopes junior defender Kelsey Smith's season ended earlier with a shoulder injury.
"We have so many young players on our young team so it's good to get them experience for their future," Smith said. "Unfortunately, it bounced the wrong way for us this year but I know we'll have more luck for us next year. Our season hasn't gone the way we planned but I think we went out with a bang."
The scoreless tie vanished in a blip with a quick strike from the UVU quick-tempo offense that GCU wanted to control. Wolverines senior Sydney Fitzpatrick had space and momentum to nicely set up junior Breanna McCarter, the only Wolverine playing in her home state. The Gilbert Highland High graduate cut through the box and redirected the ball to the net for the game's only goal.
From there, UVU staved off every Lopes challenge.
"It was definitely a fight," said senior goalkeeper Blakely Fraasch, a First Team All-WAC honoree. "We were all fighting from every end. From defense to midfield to forwards, you could tell everyone wanted and was working so hard. We almost had them too."
It was the final game for nine Lopes seniors but nine freshmen also picked up valuable experience Friday night.
"It's funny when you meet them on the first day and they're all timid and now we're joking around the locker room like we've known them for years," Fraasch said. "Seeing them develop on the field from Game 1 to now, they have more skills, got used to the game, higher pace. They're more into it and understand. They'll be good for next year.
"We've built it up. Teams know to fear us. We definitely have the mark started and they're going to build it."
For many of the GCU players, the finality had not hit them as they left the stadium locker room. It seemed like they were just in training camp and now a 21-game season is over.
The Lopes played like a more mature team in the WAC semifinals, switching systems throughout the game without a hiccup.
"I'm more impressed by the heart and fight and desire that I saw on the field," Leader said.
Â
Follow Paul Coro on Twitter: @paulcoro.
Â
Team Stats
UVU
GCU
Goals
1
0
Shots
15
20
Shots on Goal
5
8
Saves
8
4
Corners
8
4
Fouls
8
16
Scoring Plays
McCarter, Breanna (7)
Assisted By: Fitzpatrick, Sydney
GOAL by UVU McCarter, Breanna (FIRST GOAL), Assist by Fitzpatrick, Sydney, goal number 7 for season.
73:57
Game Leaders
Shots
10
SOG
3
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
3
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's SoccerF
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's SoccerSenior Reflections
Wednesday, April 15
Baptized at GCU
Tuesday, April 14
Singles off BOTH bags. ONE inning. 🤯 #baseball
Sunday, April 12
HOMER from the DRONE 🥎 #collegesoftball
Saturday, April 11