GCU prevails in season opener

Thursday, August 22

DeLand, Fla.

4 p.m.

Grand Canyon

1-0-0

Stetson

0-1-0

Grand Canyon

Stetson

8/22/2019 7:53:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Lopes freshmen connect for winning goal in Florida

By: Jerob Moon

DELAND, Fla.—The Grand Canyon women's soccer team defeated Stetson 1-0 in its season opener on Thursday when a pair of freshmen connected for a goal and another freshman recorded a shutout in goal.

GCU freshman midfielder Emma Anderson scored in the 65th minute with a backward header into the upper-left corner of the goal. She was set up in the box by freshman defender Tyler Ferguson, who delivered an assist on a free kick from near the center line at Stetson's Athletic Training Center.

"I was really excited, and it was a really good ball from my teammate Tyler, who is also a freshman, so it was really exciting for both of us," Anderson said. "I just think it's good to start the season off with a win and it's good to get ahead."

GCU's attack was balanced for most of the match with six shots in the first half and four in the second half, including seven of those 10 shots being on goal. The team also drew two corner kicks and 10 fouls, one of which was drawn by redshirt freshman forward Jaycee Iranshad to lead to Anderson's goal.

Not only did the Lopes (1-0) have to battle the Hatters (0-1) on their home field, but they had to handle a delay when the field's lights went out for nearly 20 minutes after Anderson's goal.

"It was a good experience for our team, just to be in a situation where we were up a goal and the lights went out," GCU head coach Derek Leader said. "It was a challenge because we had 18 minutes to sit here and ponder it, and Stetson had 18 minutes to switch what they were doing. But in the end, we were able to come out with a win. It was exciting to get the goal."

Lauren Garthwaite also became the first freshman goalkeeper to start the season opener for GCU since Blakely Fraasch in 2014. Garthwaite was busy most of the match, facing 20 shots with seven saves. Partnered with junior and captain Hannah Edwards, who led the Lopes' back line, she was able to debut with a shutout.

"She (Garthwaite) does a fantastic job," Leader said. "She does great with her distribution and service. She was very confident coming off her line and great controlling the tempo of the game at the end when she needed to. And Hannah Edwards was fantastic just winning balls in the air, stepping in and intercepting, and really settling down a young team."

Junior forward Camryn Larson took two shots, while fellow forward Remmi Deutsch handled much of the ball possession in the offensive half and took one shot. Sophomore defender Logan Van Dine came off the bench and played 59 solid minutes, while freshmen Raeanne Jones, Ellie Busik and Sydney Torres all saw action for the first time off the bench.

The Lopes will travel to Florida Atlantic to play the Owls on Sunday at 10 a.m. (Phoenix time) to wrap up the road trip. The Owls will play their first match of the season against Florida at home on Friday.