Lopes drop tourney opener in OT

Thursday, September 20

Manoa, Hawaii

10 p.m.

Grand Canyon

3-8

North Dakota State

3-3

OT 2

North Dakota St

Grand Canyon

9/21/2018 12:20:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Larson, Smith net goals for GCU

By: Sarah Woodward

MANOA, Hawaii – Senior defender Kelsey Smith netted the equalizer in the final minute of regulation to send the Grand Canyon women's soccer team to overtime on Thursday night but the Lopes lost 3-2 to North Dakota State in the Rainbow Wahine Shootout opener.

GCU falls to 3-8 after its fifth overtime loss of the season.

The Lopes offense was dominant despite continuing injuries, as GCU outshot the Bison, 24-10. Senior midfielder McKenzie Cook led GCU with eight shots, four of which were on frame.

Sophomore midfielder Hannah Nichols and Smith each took three shots while the quartet of sophomore forward Camryn Larson, freshman forward Carlie Bateman, junior forward Andrea Martinez and senior forward Sarah Inafuku had two shots each.

Senior midfielder Brylee Hawkins and sophomore defender Sandra Hill each took one shot.

After a pair of goals from North Dakota State (3-3) outside the 18-yard box in the 35th and 48th minutes, Larson put the Lopes (3-8) on the board in the 65th minute with a header goal off of Inafuku's corner kick. The goal was Larson's fourth of the season.

Smith tied the game in the 90th minute, scoring off a cross ball from Cook with a foot finish inside the box. Smith's goal was her second of the season.

The Bison ended the match in the 97th minute with a shot from 30 yards out that dropped below senior goalkeeper Abby Burton's reach.

GCU returns to the pitch in Manoa against tournament host Hawaii on Sunday at 8 p.m. (Arizona time).