Offensive surge continues with 6-1 win

Friday, October 1

Phoenix, Ariz.

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

9-2-1, 2-0-1

California Baptist

3-5-1, 1-1-0

California Baptist

Grand Canyon

10/1/2021 10:15:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

Schimmer's hat trick paces GCU offense in blowout

By: Jerob Moon

The Grand Canyon women's soccer team continued its hot offensive streak Friday with a 6-1 win over California Baptist at GCU Stadium.

The Lopes (9-2-1, 2-0-1 WAC) have scored 11 goals in their last two games and 15 in their last four. GCU shut the door early on CBU (3-5-1, 1-1-0 WAC) by scoring five first-half goals, including a hat trick by senior midfielder Marleen Schimmer in less than 15 minutes.

"What a crazy game, what a crazy match," Lopes head coach Chris Cissell said. "The girls just came out on fire and played phenomenal soccer, scoring great goals. Up 5-0 at halftime. I just couldn't be more proud of the team and the way that we played against such a good team and program in California Baptist."

The ninth win marks the most for the Lopes in a Division I season and they will have plenty more opportunities to add on to that total with eight regular-season games remaining .

GCU took advantage of an early mistake by CBU goalkeeper Romy Salvador in the fourth minute, when she collided with GCU forward Lindsey Prokop in a one-on-one situation to draw a straight red card. With the Lancers down to 10 players, Schimmer converted the first of two consecutive free kicks from 20 yards out, bending a shot inside the near left post before sending a second goal in the eighth minute into the top right corner.

The Mainz, Germany, native wasn't done, scoring her third goal to complete the hat trick in the 15th minute with a right-footed strike just inside the penalty box. Schimmer now has 20 points this season, most in the WAC, with 10 points coming in the last two games. Her hat trick was the the second consecutive one for the Lopes after Gianna Gourley also scored three goals in one half on Saturday, when she had a second-half hat trick at Dixie State.

Prokop score on a right-footed goal in the 16th minute, when her shot traveled across the front of the goal and into the bottom left side. Gourley added a 30-yard strike in the 24th minute to make the score 5-0, effectively putting the game out of reach.

GCU freshman Maya Gaona capped off the win with her first collegiate goal in the 88th minute.

It marks the first time the Lopes scored five goals in a half since 2016, when GCU won 9-0 at Chicago State.

The Lopes will look to keep the hot streak going when Seattle U (6-4-1, 0-2-0 WAC) comes to GCU Stadium on Sunday. GCU will be wearing pink jerseys in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.