GCU sweeps major WAC awards, puts 5 on All-WAC

The Grand Canyon women's soccer team was well represented by grabbing three major All-WAC awards on Tuesday.

Just three days after clinching the program's first WAC regular-season title, GCU head coach Chris Cissell was named WAC Coach of the Year for the second straight season while senior forward Marleen Schimmer and fifth-year defender Hannah Edwards were named WAC Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, respectively.

This marks the first time in the program's Division I history that the Lopes earned WAC Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Schimmer and Edwards also joined junior forward Gianna Gourley and sophomore midfielder Brenna Alderson on the All-WAC first team, while forward Renee Sainz was named to the All-WAC Freshman Team.

Chris Cissell – WAC Coach of the Year

Cissell led the Lopes to a historical season, earning his fourth WAC Coach of the Year award in the past five seasons after also winning it consecutively at Kansas City in 2017 and 2018.

"It's awesome, when you get named Coach of the Year, it means you've had a great year and a great team," Cissell said. "I hope the entire coaching staff, support staff and the administration take pride in this honor. We've had some unprecedented accomplishments by the program, and I think the other coaches are recognizing the phenomenal season we've had as a team."

The Lopes obliterated program records from Cissell's first season at the helm last spring. They set new marks for wins (14), goals (55), assists (54) and points (164). Those offensive numbers put the Lopes in the top four nationally in all three categories. GCU also broke into top 50 in the NCAA's Ratings Percentage Index for the first time and have reached as high as No. 5 in the United Soccer Coaches' Pacific Region poll.

GCU started the season with three straight shutouts and a 9-0 goal advantage and never looked back, scoring three or more goals 10 times. The Lopes held an unbeaten record in WAC play through the first seven matches and defeated Dixie State and Utah Valley in the final week of the regular season by a combined score of 10-3 to capture the program's first WAC West Division title.

The Lopes also protected home field, finishing with a program-best 9-1 record at GCU Stadium while outscoring opponents 37-7.

Marleen Schimmer – WAC Offensive Player of the Year / All-WAC first team

Schimmer was the catalyst for the GCU offense, setting program records with 12 goals, 14 assists and 38 points to earn the program's first WAC Offensive Player of the Year honor. Those marks put the Mainz, Germany, native third in the country in assists and points while ranking inside the top 20 for goals scored.

"What an unbelievable year," Cissell said. "Not only the goals and assists, but she has shown her class all season long. It's not just the amount of goals and assists, it's the quality of them. We're super happy and proud of her and not surprised by this honor because she had definitely earned it through her great play all season."

Schimmer has been an offensive juggernaut since arriving from Arizona State last season, tallying 16 goals, 20 assists and 60 points in 36 career games as a Lope.

This season, Schimmer posted a goal or an assist in all but one WAC match, finishing with nine goals and 10 assists in conference play. She recorded her first GCU hat trick against California Baptist on Oct. 1 in just 25 minutes and ended the regular season with two goals and four assists in wins against Dixie State and Utah Valley.

Hannah Edwards – WAC Defensive Player of the Year / All-WAC first team

While the Lopes were stellar offensively, Edwards led a GCU defense that was just as impressive to become the Lopes' first WAC Defensive Player of the Year.

"It's great for Hannah and it's great for the team," Cissell said. "She would be the first to tell you she shares this honor with all her teammates in the back line and with our goalkeeper. Hannah has been so consistent and athletic back there and she does a phenomenal job defending in one-on-one situations. Her distribution has been great, and she has also been dangerous in set pieces and scored some huge goals for us as a center back."

Edwards used a COVID-19 waiver to return for one final season and captained a defense that led the WAC with just 15 goals conceded in 19 games (a conference-best 0.79 goals against average with seven shutouts). GCU allowed nine goals in 10 WAC matches while limiting opponents to 52 shots on goal.

The Aurora, Colorado, native was not just good at limiting opponent goals. She also scored them, recording four goals off corner kicks this season and adding two assists. Individually, Edwards set GCU career records with 92 games played and started and 8,167 minutes logged.

Gianna Gourley – All-WAC first team

Gourley, a transfer from Iowa, made an immediate impact for the Lopes in her first season. The Las Vegas native was second on the team with 10 goals, doubling her previous career high of five from her freshman season in 2018. Gourley added four assists to finish with 24 points and led the team with five game-winning goals.

"It's awesome to see her perform so well after transferring to us this year," Cissell said. "It took her a while to get used to us as a coaching staff and our style of play. But once we got into WAC play, she really came on strong. Anytime you get double-digit goals at the D-I level, that's big time. We're so happy she decided to join our soccer family this year."

Gourley did her most damage in WAC play, scoring eight of her 10 goals with two multi-goal games. At Dixie State on Sept. 25, Gourley recorded a hat trick in under four minutes before scoring two goals against New Mexico State three games later on Oct. 9.

Brenna Alderson – All-WAC first team

Alderson took her game to the next level after earning All-WAC Freshman Team honors last season. She was a solid contributor in the midfield, playing offensive and defensive positions. The Gilbert, Arizona, native was efficient, scoring four goals on 18 shots while adding five assists in 19 games.

"Awesome to have a midfielder get this kind of credit and recognition," Cissell said. "Breanna has been an extremely hard worker this year. Her versatility in the midfield to play in so many different roles is great for us. To play that way in our system and contribute offensively is great."

Eight of Alderson's 13 points came in WAC play, tallying assists in back-to-back wins against Dixie State and CBU. In the home stretch of the regular season, Alderson notched a goal and an assist in each home win against New Mexico State and Dixie State.

Renee Sainz – All-WAC Freshman Team

From nearby Casteel High School in Queen Creek, Arizona, Sainz came to GCU and made an immediate impact in her first season to earn All-WAC Freshman Team honors.

"We're super excited for her," Cissell said. "This shows how bright her future is here at GCU. She had a great freshman year and has played a lot of minutes for us. Her energy and excitement to play and her athleticism and pace makes it very difficult for our opponents. She plays great in our system and works well with our other attacking players."

The speedy forward recorded two assists this season against Central Arkansas and Dixie State and played her way into the starting lineup in the final four games of the season. She led all GCU freshman with 793 minutes, 12 shots and three shots on goal in 18 games.

West No. 1 seed GCU hits the road for the WAC Tournament hosted by Abilene Christian. The Lopes earned a first-round bye and will face the winner of Southwest No. 2 seed Lamar and West No. 3 seed New Mexico State in a Friday semifinal at 2 p.m. (Phoenix time).

Grand Canyon University Athletics

Chris Cissell – WAC Coach of the Year

Marleen Schimmer – WAC Offensive Player of the Year / All-WAC first team

Hannah Edwards – WAC Defensive Player of the Year / All-WAC first team

Gianna Gourley – All-WAC first team

Brenna Alderson – All-WAC first team

Renee Sainz – All-WAC Freshman Team

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Players Mentioned

Brenna Alderson

Hannah Edwards

Gianna Gourley

Renee Sainz

Marleen Schimmer

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