Breakthrough team's ride ends in NCAAs

Saturday, November 13

Los Angeles, CA

1 p.m. PT / 2 p.m. MT

Grand Canyon

16-4-2, 7-1-2

USC

14-3-2, 8-1-2

Grand Canyon

USC

11/13/2021 2:54:00 PM | Women's Soccer, Paul Coro

Box Score Photo Gallery

No. 11 USC jumps to early lead, wins 6-0 in Lopes' DI tourney debut

By: Paul Coro

LOS ANGELES – The Grand Canyon women's soccer team made the fastest rise in the nation over the past year to make its NCAA Division I tournament debut on Saturday but ran into a national championship contender.

No. 11 USC (14-3-2) pounced on visiting GCU with Pac-12 Midfielder of the Year Croix Bethune's hat trick in the first nine minutes and never relented for a 6-0 first-round win Saturday at Soni McAlister Field.

The Lopes (16-4-2) used all of their travel squad's position players in the first half, as head coach Chris Cissell gave his WAC regular-season and tournament champions a feel of the national stage that they hope to revisit. GCU entered Saturday with the nation's sixth-leading offense was stymied by the Trojans, a program making its eighth consecutive NCAA tournament appearance and in search of its third national championship.

When it ended, the Lopes players gathered in a circle on the field, arms draped around each other in a group hug as players shared tears, laughs and words for how they appreciated the journey with one another.

"We've built the foundation of what GCU soccer is going to look like in the next few years," GCU fifth-year defender Sandra Hill said. "For us to come out on a such a well-known stage with a team as good as USC, I don't think people understand what we've done. The result doesn't reflect who we are, because we are a very incredible group of girls who made history. It's only one step closer to what this program is going to be in the next 10 years. It's a special moment to be a part of it."

Camryn Larson

The Lopes have 11 seniors and fifth-players who could have played their final match Saturday on the NCAA's greatest stage. USC is a team that could move to contend for a national title, while GCU was gathering its first NCAA tournament experience for underclassmen and a lasting memory for seniors who Cissell configured a way to play together at the end of the game.

"It's an incredible experience for us to play in the national tournament and get to the national tournament in such a short time," Cissell said. "I still haven't even been here two years. Two years ago, we were winning four games and scoring 14 goals in a season. Now, we're winning 16 games, scoring 60 goals and at least getting to the national tournament.

"It didn't go how we wanted or expected but credit to USC. They're an awesome team. Incredible. I wouldn't be surprised if they go win the whole thing. It was a tough draw for us. We came out flat and they exposed us and scored a couple goals real quick to change the complexion of the match."

USC matched its postseason record for goals scored after Bethune had a foot in the Trojans' first five goals. The junior scored in the fourth, seventh and ninth minutes to run her season tally to 16, the last of which came when she went 30 yards down the middle and beat two defenders and the goalkeeper for a 3-0 lead.

The Lopes tried to dig in at 3-0 with a diving save from sophomore goalkeeper Jordan Ferguson and scoring opportunity on a give-and-go between junior forward Gianna Gourley and sophomore midfielder Reese Mendenhall, who gave strong efforts throughout the match.

USC only took seven first-half shots but scored a fourth goal in the 19th minute off an assistant from Bethune, who assisted on another goal 1 /2 minutes into the second half for a 5-0 lead.

"We know we're a really good team, but we haven't played a team like this all year," Cissell said. "That's a different level of athleticism and a different level of speed. That's why they have two national championship banners over there."

After a free kick for GCU star senior Marleen Schimmer went off goal, USC added its final goal off winning a 50-50 ball in the 48th minute.

Ferguson made a pair of outstanding saves in the 82nd minute, covering up a defensive error on one shot before making a diving stop on the other.

USC held a shot advantage, 18-9, that showed just how the Trojans were with their 10 shots on goal.

"It's amazing that we made it this far and that we made history," GCU fifth-year defender Mikaela McGee said. "It was really cool to play in the national tournament, but it's really sad to play our last game ever. There are definitely a few tears.

"We put it together this year and found our spark and we won. Coach Cissell has been a really positive influence on all of us. Our coaching staff, these past two years, have really brought us together more than in the past and I've learned a lot from them."

The Lopes closed the game with a senior lineup that lifted the program to its first winning Division I season and the nation's greatest two-year rise, going from finishing 2019 at No. 279 in NCAA Rating Percentage Index to No. 37 this season.

"The relationship that we have between one another is a bond that we've built because we've gone through so much in the past five years," Hill said. "Having each other's back, knowing what to do for our next move on the field, being able to intellectually understand each other is what has built this foundation. We're so much better as a group of people, versus individuals, because of how we play and how we bond on and off the field."