Completed Event: Women's Soccer versus Arizona on August 12, 2026 , Win , 2, to, 0
W Soccer
vs Arizona
W 2-0
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Ahead of NCAA tourney debut, Lopes sign 8 for 2022
11/10/2021 2:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer
CIssell brings new Lopes into program from West Coast to Midwest
The rise of Grand Canyon women's soccer was shown in the quality of an eight-player signing class that head coach Chris Cissell added for the 2022 season.
"We are so excited and thrilled to welcome these eight great student athletes in to our awesome GCU soccer family," head Cissell said. "Not only are these student athletes tremendous soccer players but they are truly great people with incredible character and integrity and we are excited to welcome them and their families to Grand Canyon University."
Signees Grace Bartlett, Morgan Colangelo and Lexi Flint of Kansas, Hannah Davy of California, Payton Fisher of Missouri, Bella Gutierrez of Texas, AJ Loera of Colorado and hometown product Jess Haynes of Phoenix will form the freshman class that will try to help GCU's first defense of a WAC championship.
THE PLAYER: The first of three Overland Park, Kansas, signings has had a storied high school career at Blue Valley West. A dual-sport athlete, Bartlett was part of 6A state championship for soccer and volleyball. She was named a finalist for Kansas State Soccer Gatorade Player of the Year and USA Sports' Kansas Female Athlete of the Year. In soccer, Bartlett was named to the all-state first team and all-league first team last spring.
THE PERSON: Bartlett has three siblings, all brothers, two of whom play collegiate soccer. Her oldest sibling, Alec, plans to play for USL club Charlotte Independence after his career ends at Drake, while another brother, Lucas, plans to go pro after his time at St. John's.
SCOUTING REPORT: "I have known Grace and her family for a long time and I was excited that she wanted to join our awesome soccer family. Grace is a very hard-working player, first of all, and has the unique ability to strike the ball well from distance." – Cissell
THE PLAYER: Grace's teammate from Blue Valley West will also be joining the Lopes next fall. Colangelo led the Jaguars with 12 goals and nine assists her junior year and scored the game-winning goal in the 6A state championship game that same season. Colangelo earned All-EKL Second Team honors in soccer in 2021 while also being named the EKL Defense Player of the Year in volleyball.
THE PERSON: Morgan enjoys hanging out with friends and family outside of sports and has always wanted to live in Phoenix. She chose GCU because of the welcoming campus and how it feels like a family. She has an older brother Mason who played basketball at Nichols College.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Morgan is another player that really impressed us at our ID camps and we were excited to add her speed, pace and athleticism to our team. She has the ability to get in behind the back line and score goals." – Cissell
THE PLAYER: Davy has primary played club soccer but will join her high school team at Millikan for her first season this year. At Beach Futbol Club, Davy was part of a top-10 team in the country and has played at both the DA team and made the ECNL. She has been a stellar student averaging a 3.5 GPA in high school.
THE PERSON: Soccer runs in the family as Hannah's older sister Ashley is in her sophomore year at Arcadia University. Some of Hannah's hobbies include traveling and hanging out with friends and family at the beach. She chose GCU because of the location and the soccer coaching staff.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Hannah is another very talented, technical player with good touch, vision and will help our soccer family to continue to play the style that we want to play. We are excited to have her join our soccer family." – Cissell
THE PLAYER: Fisher is a versatile player able to play both in wing back and forward positions. She has been a starter since her freshman year at the all-girls St. Joseph's Academy while also playing club for St. Louis Scott Gallagher SC. Fisher played a key role in helping SLSG make a run to the quarterfinals in the ECNL national playoffs.
THE PERSON: Fisher is the youngest of three with an older brother Brayden and sister Malia. She enjoys cooking and watching the U.S. Women's National Team and PSG outside of playing soccer. She chose GCU because of the coaching staff and immediately feeling at home on campus.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Payton is another player that really caught our eye in our ID camps and we continued to follow her development and progression, and we are very excited to add her to our soccer family. She is another player that fits well in our system and our tactics and has the ability and versatility to play in different roles." – Cissell
THE PLAYER: Flint has played both her freshman and senior year at Olathe East High School where she earned Academic Excellence honors. Flint also plays club soccer at Sporting Blue Valley where she is teammates with fellow GCU signee Grace Bartlett. Some of her favorite sport moments is traveling with her teammates and celebrating with them when they score.
THE PERSON: Flint's hobbies include enjoying the outdoors while mountain biking, reading and baking. She has four younger siblings, two sisters Emma and Allyson, and two brothers Aiden and Caleb. She chose GCU because of the culture, education and the coaching staff.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Lexi is an attacking outside back that will fit in very well in our system, tactics and style of play. Very technical defender who will help us keep possession and distribute out of the back." – Cissell
THE PLAYER: The lone goalkeeper in this year's class, Gutierrez is GCU's first player from Texas since 2016. Gutierrez earned Second Team All-State in 2020 for the 4A Bothell Cougars. In club soccer at Crossfire Premier, Gutierrez was part of a Surf Cup winning team and had the opportunity to play in Spain.
THE PERSON: Gutierrez has one brother Cristian and enjoys hiking outside of playing soccer. She chose GCU because of the welcoming coaching staff and the campus. Her favorite team to watch is Real Madrid and her favorite athlete to watch is goalies Ter Stegan and Manuel Neuer.
SCOUTING REPORT: "We are excited to have Bella joining our awesome soccer family. She is a very technical, tactical and athletic goalkeeper with experience of competing at a very high level." – Cissell
THE PLAYER: The lone Arizona signee comes to GCU after scoring 22 goals with eight assists in 33 games played for nearby Sandra Day O'Connor. Haynes was named All-Conference First Team and Team Offensive Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons. In her club career Haynes won the state cup in 2017 for the first time.
THE PERSON: GCU has been Jess' dream school since she could remember and she loves the passion the students and school puts into athletics. Her older brother Michael is a senior goalkeeper on the GCU men's soccer team. She enjoys drawing and photographer outside of soccer.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Jess is another local talent that we are very excited to add to our soccer family. I originally noticed Jess at one of our ID camps and I was very impressed with her versatility and her ability to strike a ball with power and accuracy." – Cissell
THE PLAYER: Loera has been a prolific scorer in her prep career coming to GCU with 39 goals while playing for The Academy Wildcats. She has earned Frontier League Player of the Year and All-State First Team honors. Loera is a dual-sport athlete playing basketball for three years.
THE PERSON: AJ is the youngest of four siblings with two older sisters Ariyona and Alexis and one brother Juan. She enjoys watching FC Barcelona and is a fan of Lionel Messi. Loera chose GCU because of gorgeous campus and the soccer coaching staff.
SCOUTING REPORT: "We are thrilled to be adding her to our soccer family, she is a very hard-working, consistent, technical player with great tactical awareness. She loves the game and brings great passion to her play. Her vision and her passing ability will help us to combine and keep possession and play our game." – Cissell
"We are so excited and thrilled to welcome these eight great student athletes in to our awesome GCU soccer family," head Cissell said. "Not only are these student athletes tremendous soccer players but they are truly great people with incredible character and integrity and we are excited to welcome them and their families to Grand Canyon University."
Signees Grace Bartlett, Morgan Colangelo and Lexi Flint of Kansas, Hannah Davy of California, Payton Fisher of Missouri, Bella Gutierrez of Texas, AJ Loera of Colorado and hometown product Jess Haynes of Phoenix will form the freshman class that will try to help GCU's first defense of a WAC championship.
MEET THE CLASS |
players listed alphabetically
GRACE BARTLETT
Midfielder - Overland Park, Kan. - Blue Valley West HS
It's official, welcome to Phoenix @gracebartlett21! #LopesUp pic.twitter.com/Iiqm7hMjyc
— GCU Women's Soccer (@GCU_WSoccer) November 11, 2021
THE PLAYER: The first of three Overland Park, Kansas, signings has had a storied high school career at Blue Valley West. A dual-sport athlete, Bartlett was part of 6A state championship for soccer and volleyball. She was named a finalist for Kansas State Soccer Gatorade Player of the Year and USA Sports' Kansas Female Athlete of the Year. In soccer, Bartlett was named to the all-state first team and all-league first team last spring.
THE PERSON: Bartlett has three siblings, all brothers, two of whom play collegiate soccer. Her oldest sibling, Alec, plans to play for USL club Charlotte Independence after his career ends at Drake, while another brother, Lucas, plans to go pro after his time at St. John's.
SCOUTING REPORT: "I have known Grace and her family for a long time and I was excited that she wanted to join our awesome soccer family. Grace is a very hard-working player, first of all, and has the unique ability to strike the ball well from distance." – Cissell
MORGAN COLANGELO
Forward - Overland Park, Kan. - Blue Valley West HS
Welcome to the GCU family @morgancolangel4! #LopesUp pic.twitter.com/uTBil2Ag5g
— GCU Women's Soccer (@GCU_WSoccer) November 12, 2021
THE PLAYER: Grace's teammate from Blue Valley West will also be joining the Lopes next fall. Colangelo led the Jaguars with 12 goals and nine assists her junior year and scored the game-winning goal in the 6A state championship game that same season. Colangelo earned All-EKL Second Team honors in soccer in 2021 while also being named the EKL Defense Player of the Year in volleyball.
THE PERSON: Morgan enjoys hanging out with friends and family outside of sports and has always wanted to live in Phoenix. She chose GCU because of the welcoming campus and how it feels like a family. She has an older brother Mason who played basketball at Nichols College.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Morgan is another player that really impressed us at our ID camps and we were excited to add her speed, pace and athleticism to our team. She has the ability to get in behind the back line and score goals." – Cissell
HANNAH DAVY
Midfielder - Long Beach, Calif.. - Millikan HS
Our next recruit has officially signed, welcome to GCU Hannah! #LopesUp pic.twitter.com/S0x1Iqf1UK
— GCU Women's Soccer (@GCU_WSoccer) November 10, 2021
THE PLAYER: Davy has primary played club soccer but will join her high school team at Millikan for her first season this year. At Beach Futbol Club, Davy was part of a top-10 team in the country and has played at both the DA team and made the ECNL. She has been a stellar student averaging a 3.5 GPA in high school.
THE PERSON: Soccer runs in the family as Hannah's older sister Ashley is in her sophomore year at Arcadia University. Some of Hannah's hobbies include traveling and hanging out with friends and family at the beach. She chose GCU because of the location and the soccer coaching staff.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Hannah is another very talented, technical player with good touch, vision and will help our soccer family to continue to play the style that we want to play. We are excited to have her join our soccer family." – Cissell
PAYTON FISHER
Defender - St. Louis, Mo. - St. Joesph's Academy
Welcome to the GCU family @PaytonFisher21! #LopesUp pic.twitter.com/yV5qBWMHHW
— GCU Women's Soccer (@GCU_WSoccer) November 10, 2021
THE PLAYER: Fisher is a versatile player able to play both in wing back and forward positions. She has been a starter since her freshman year at the all-girls St. Joseph's Academy while also playing club for St. Louis Scott Gallagher SC. Fisher played a key role in helping SLSG make a run to the quarterfinals in the ECNL national playoffs.
THE PERSON: Fisher is the youngest of three with an older brother Brayden and sister Malia. She enjoys cooking and watching the U.S. Women's National Team and PSG outside of playing soccer. She chose GCU because of the coaching staff and immediately feeling at home on campus.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Payton is another player that really caught our eye in our ID camps and we continued to follow her development and progression, and we are very excited to add her to our soccer family. She is another player that fits well in our system and our tactics and has the ability and versatility to play in different roles." – Cissell
LEXI FLINT
Defender - Overland Park, Kan. - Olathe East HS
Welcome to Phoenix @LexiFlint1! #LopesUp pic.twitter.com/WoZhjFSFQn
— GCU Women's Soccer (@GCU_WSoccer) November 11, 2021
THE PLAYER: Flint has played both her freshman and senior year at Olathe East High School where she earned Academic Excellence honors. Flint also plays club soccer at Sporting Blue Valley where she is teammates with fellow GCU signee Grace Bartlett. Some of her favorite sport moments is traveling with her teammates and celebrating with them when they score.
THE PERSON: Flint's hobbies include enjoying the outdoors while mountain biking, reading and baking. She has four younger siblings, two sisters Emma and Allyson, and two brothers Aiden and Caleb. She chose GCU because of the culture, education and the coaching staff.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Lexi is an attacking outside back that will fit in very well in our system, tactics and style of play. Very technical defender who will help us keep possession and distribute out of the back." – Cissell
BELLA GUTIERREZ
Goalkeeper - Arlington, Texas - Bothell HS
It's official, welcome to GCU @bella04soccer! #LopesUp pic.twitter.com/46k9LJdro4
— GCU Women's Soccer (@GCU_WSoccer) November 11, 2021
THE PLAYER: The lone goalkeeper in this year's class, Gutierrez is GCU's first player from Texas since 2016. Gutierrez earned Second Team All-State in 2020 for the 4A Bothell Cougars. In club soccer at Crossfire Premier, Gutierrez was part of a Surf Cup winning team and had the opportunity to play in Spain.
THE PERSON: Gutierrez has one brother Cristian and enjoys hiking outside of playing soccer. She chose GCU because of the welcoming coaching staff and the campus. Her favorite team to watch is Real Madrid and her favorite athlete to watch is goalies Ter Stegan and Manuel Neuer.
SCOUTING REPORT: "We are excited to have Bella joining our awesome soccer family. She is a very technical, tactical and athletic goalkeeper with experience of competing at a very high level." – Cissell
JESS HAYNES
Defender - Phoenix, Ariz. - Sandra Day O'Connor HS
Our first signee of our 2022 class! Welcome to GCU @jesshaynes23! #LopesUp pic.twitter.com/cCRUx7Au6Q
— GCU Women's Soccer (@GCU_WSoccer) November 10, 2021
THE PLAYER: The lone Arizona signee comes to GCU after scoring 22 goals with eight assists in 33 games played for nearby Sandra Day O'Connor. Haynes was named All-Conference First Team and Team Offensive Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons. In her club career Haynes won the state cup in 2017 for the first time.
THE PERSON: GCU has been Jess' dream school since she could remember and she loves the passion the students and school puts into athletics. Her older brother Michael is a senior goalkeeper on the GCU men's soccer team. She enjoys drawing and photographer outside of soccer.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Jess is another local talent that we are very excited to add to our soccer family. I originally noticed Jess at one of our ID camps and I was very impressed with her versatility and her ability to strike a ball with power and accuracy." – Cissell
AJ LOERA
Midfielder - Thornton, Colo. - The Academy Charter
Excited to welcome @ajloera1 to GCU! #LopesUp pic.twitter.com/huFy2DUjQo
— GCU Women's Soccer (@GCU_WSoccer) November 12, 2021
THE PLAYER: Loera has been a prolific scorer in her prep career coming to GCU with 39 goals while playing for The Academy Wildcats. She has earned Frontier League Player of the Year and All-State First Team honors. Loera is a dual-sport athlete playing basketball for three years.
THE PERSON: AJ is the youngest of four siblings with two older sisters Ariyona and Alexis and one brother Juan. She enjoys watching FC Barcelona and is a fan of Lionel Messi. Loera chose GCU because of gorgeous campus and the soccer coaching staff.
SCOUTING REPORT: "We are thrilled to be adding her to our soccer family, she is a very hard-working, consistent, technical player with great tactical awareness. She loves the game and brings great passion to her play. Her vision and her passing ability will help us to combine and keep possession and play our game." – Cissell
Thursday, September 03
Thursday, September 03
Saturday, August 29
Thursday, August 27