Lopes win historic WAC West Division title

Saturday, October 30

Phoenix, Ariz.

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

14-3-2, 7-1-2

Utah Valley

11-6-2, 6-2-2

Utah Valley

Grand Canyon

Photo by: Zach Campbell

10/30/2021 10:34:00 PM | Women's Soccer

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GCU earns first regular-season title, No. 1 seed in WAC Tournament

By: Jerob Moon

The Grand Canyon women's soccer team made history on Saturday night as it captured the program's first WAC title by capturing the West Division championship with a 6-2 win over Utah Valley.

The Lopes (14-3-2, 7-1-2 WAC) overcame an early 1-0 deficit and rocked Utah Valley (11-6-2, 6-2-2 WAC) with three goals in each half to earn the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye at next week's WAC Tournament in Abilene, Texas.

"I am super excited, super proud and super wet," GCU second-year head coach Chris Cissell said after a surprise Gatorade shower. "What a great night, first regular-season championship in program history, and to do it against such a great program in Utah Valley is amazing. I'm happy for the team and the girls who have been here for three, four or five years. To be able to win a WAC championship in their final game at GCU Stadium is so special."

The Lopes finished the regular season with a 9-1 record at GCU Stadium, but they had to come back from an early 1-0 deficit to earn that ninth win. The Wolverines scored in the ninth minute after a shot deflected off GCU goalkeeper Jordan Ferguson.

But from then on, it was all GCU.

The Lopes tied the match in he 23rd minute on what was the first of three goals they scored in the first half. GCU junior forward Gianna Gourley raced down the right side and crossed the ball into a cutting Marleen Schimmer who finished with her right foot.

Schimmer, the senior forward, wasn't done scoring as she took on four Utah Valley defenders in the 28th minute and scored a long-distance shot that bounced past Utah Valley's goalkeeper. It was Schimmer's WAC-leading 11th and 12th goals of the season to put the Lopes ahead 2-1.

Just before halftime, GCU scored again. This time, Gourley got in on the action. Redshirt junior Dani Babb took a long through ball from Schimmer and raced down the right side before sending a delayed cross to Gourley, who finished with her left foot. It was the Iowa transfer's 10th goal of the season, doubling her previous season high of five goals as a freshman.

It was more of the same in the second half, as the Lopes added three more goals to crush Utah Valley comeback hopes. Babb completed scored back-to-back goals in the 50th and 70th minutes before sophomore Reese Mendenhall added the exclamation point in the 80th minute with a solo goal.

"I don't even know what to say it's so surreal," Lopes fifth-year defender Hannah Edwards said. "I think there is a lot emotions because this stadium, this team will forever have an impact on my life. To say the least, we are going out with a bang. It doesn't surprise me at all, this team has worked like crazy. We deserve this win."

The Lopes will be the No. 1 seed out of the West Division, joining Southwest Division champion Stephen F. Austin with first-round byes. GCU will await the winner of No. 2 Lamar vs. No. 3 New Mexico State for a semifinal that will take place on Nov. 5 at 2 p.m. (Phoenix time).

"It's definitely been awesome, but starting tomorrow, it's a business trip," Edwards said. "We proved something tonight, but we have two more games we have to prove ourselves in Abilene."