Team play leads to 4-1 GCU win

Thursday, October 28

Phoenix, Ariz.

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

13-3-2, 6-1-2

Dixie State

6-12-1, 2-6-1

Dixie St.

Grand Canyon

Photo by: Skyler Coblentz

10/28/2021 9:52:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

Lopes head to Saturday showdown for WAC divisional title

By: Jerob Moon

The Grand Canyon women's soccer team came alive in the second half in a 4-1 win against Dixie State at GCU Stadium on Thursday night.

After a 1-1 first half, the Lopes regrouped and came out on fire after halftime to score three goals on 15 shots. The win pushes GCU (13-3-2, 6-1-2 WAC) to a program record for wins in a season, while setting up a showdown with Utah Valley on Saturday night for the WAC West Division title.

"What a great night and what a great game by the girls," Lopes head coach Chris Cissell said. "In the second half, we came out on fire with some really good goals. That's probably the thing I'm most proud of tonight, was just the team goals. All the goals were just filled with great passing and teamwork. Things that we see in training take root in game is just a great feeling."

The night did not start out great for the Lopes, who surrendered a third-minute goal to Dixie State (6-12-1, 2-6-1 WAC) off a scramble in front of goal following a corner kick.

Down 1-0, the Lopes were able to withstand a high press from the Trailblazers for the rest of the half and equalized on a goal by fifth-year forward Camryn Larson in the 39th minute. Build-up play from senior Marleen Schimmer in the midfield and redshirt junior forward Dani Babb on the right wing led to a point-blank shot that Larson converted on a diving attempt.

The third goal of the season for the Gilbert, Arizona, native tied the match at 1-1 for halftime.

The second half was all GCU and that became apparent quickly when the Lopes took the lead just over a minute into the period on a goal by Hannah Edwards, a fifth-year defender. Edwards converted her fourth goal of the season, all off corner kicks, by heading a pass from Schimmer into the back of the net.

Leading 2-1, the Lopes continued to be aggressive on offense and defense and outshot Dixie State 8-0 midway through the period.

GCU broke it open in the 73rd minute when sophomore midifelder Brenna Alderson beat three defenders to head in her fourth goal of the season. Alderson's goal came off assists from junior forward Gianna Gourley and Larson, who teamed to work the ball up the right side of the field before crossing it.

The exclamation point for the Lopes came just five minutes later when unselfish passing from Alderson and freshman midfielder Renee Sainz led to an uncontested goal by Babb to make it 4-1.

The Lopes recorded seven assists on four goals and outshot Dixie State 26-9.

Now all eyes will turn to Saturday, when GCU and Utah Valley meet to decide the WAC West Division title. Both teams sit atop the standings at 20 points heading into the weekend and tied 0-0 in a Sept. 23 matchup in Orem, Utah.

"We've got a lot to play for on Saturday against Utah Valley," Cissell said. "Our fans have plenty to look forward to and we need all of them to come out as we play for a divisional championship in our beautiful stadium."

Admission for all fans will be free at GCU Stadium with the gates opening an hours before the 7 p.m. kickoff.