Season progress defined by beating CBU 4-0

Saturday, April 3

Phoenix, Ariz.

2 p.m.

Grand Canyon

6-8-1, 6-4-1

California Baptist

10-3-3, 8-3-2

California Baptist

Grand Canyon

4/3/2021 7:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer, Paul Coro

Box Score Photo Gallery

Lopes stretch unbeaten streak to 5 games with 4 goal scorers

By: Paul Coro

There is a women's soccer team that nobody may want to face in the upcoming WAC Tournament and it is not the first-, second- or third-place team.

Grand Canyon's in-season metamorphosis got its wings Saturday, when the Lopes dominated California Baptist 4-0 with seniors Hannah Edwards and Haley Bostard following up last week's first career goals by each scoring again on Senior Day at GCU Stadium.

The Lopes were 1-7 at the season midpoint, but have gone 5-1-1 since then with nothing showing the improvement more than Thursday's and Saturday's home games. California Baptist entered as the WAC's first-place team with eight goals allowed on the season and left Phoenix with a tie, a loss and six goals allowed.

"The best part of it is that it's been building all season long," said Edwards, a defender making her 71st career start Saturday. "It's not just that it's Senior Day. These girls have been working their butts off. It's just clicking now. I'm so proud of them. It took a little time to figure out and it's shining now."

GCU (6-8-1, 6-4-1 WAC) moved into fourth place this week and is in position for the No. 3 seed in the WAC Tournament, which will begin on April 13 in GCU Stadium. CBU (10-3-3, 8-3-2 WAC) had everything to play for this week because it will not participate in the tourney as part of its Division I four-year transition period.

The Lopes became the first team this season to score two goals on the Lancers in Thursday's game, but gave up a tying goal late in regulation. GCU dominated Saturday with their five seniors starting (Edwards, Bostard, Sandra Hill, Mikaela McGee and Camryn Larson) while injured senior Hannah Nichols also was honored.

In the two-game series, each of the Lopes' six goals was scored by a different player.

"I love to hear that because that it makes it really tough to prepare for us," GCU head coach Chris Cissell said. "Everybody thinks that we're a one-player show with Marleen Schimmer and then they watch us play. Jaycee Iranshad has more goals (seven) than Marleen (four). All the other coaches think as long as they shut down Marleen, they'll win, and they focus so much on that. The other girls have learned how to step up when all the focus is on Schimmy."

Hannah Edwards goal celebration

But Schimmer's strong leg sure helps too.

Shortly after a GCU flurry of threats in the fourth minute Saturday, Schimmer sent a corner kick over the pack to Edwards on the back side. Edwards' header redirected the ball to the right side of the net for a 1-0 lead, prompting her to point to her attending relatives and have Schimmer jump into her arms.

"She's more excited to assist a goal than to score," Edwards said of Schimmer.

Schimmer, a junior forward, scored the next one nearly all on her own in the 18th minute. Larson intercepted a goal kick and sent the ball to Schimmer on the left sideline. In a one-on-one situation, Schimmer set up her defender dribbling left before she cut back and launched a 30-yard rocket into the goal for a 2-0 lead.

"I was celebrating and watching that like a fan," Cissell said. "I can't wait to get on Twitter and watch it over and over. The girl is an unbelievable player and talent, but she's always getting hit, fouled and double-teamed. Today, they gave her a little bit of freedom and she made them pay. She's a special talent."

CBU could have tightened the game in the 28th minute. The Lancers had a one-on-one breakaway against Lopes freshman goalkeeper Jordan Ferguson, but she knocked away the shot and her defender and older sister, Tyler, cleared the ball.

GCU seemingly would have been content to take a 2-0 lead to halftime, but it remained on the attack even as the first half's final seconds were counted off over the stadium speakers.

Lopes sophomore forward Lindsey Prokop won a 50-50 ball and hit a cross that pinballed to sophomore defender Raquel Hagar, whose shot was deflected to sophomore forward Raenne Jones for a goal and a 3-0 lead with eight seconds remaining in the half.

"That was a back-breaker," Cissell said. "Then the halftime speech was all about that we still had to win the second half to get better for the tournament."

Bostard CBU

Cissell challenged the Lopes to score again and keep the shutout. They did both, taking the lead to 4-0 in the 69th minute.

Freshman midfielder Brenna Alderson put a corner kick at the goal's doorstep, forcing the goalkeeper to bat it. Jones controlled the loose ball and passed outside to sophomore forward Dani Babb, who lofted a perfect assist over the goal-area bunch for a Bostard header goal.

GCU won 4-0 against a CBU team that was leading the WAC in goals scored per game (2.5) and goals against average (0.7).

"We're clicking at the right time," Bostard said. "We're finally playing well. It's just an amazing feeling and I'm so happy for our team. Everyone is super-excited and happy for each other. We're a soccer family and, when someone succeeds, we all succeed. That's been our motto since the turning point."

Raenne Jones

Nine GCU players scored points on goals or assists in the two games and Cissell used 22 players in a critical conference match. That is a testament to the Lopes' growth in understanding the system and how players can benefit from in-season improvement to earn playing time.

"I'm just really happy and really pleased with the team because it was a rough start to the season, but I feel like we're clicking on all cylinders right now and we're headed in the right direction," Cissell said. "I feel like, if I was any other teams in the WAC, I wouldn't want to play GCU at GCU right now in the tournament. That's the feeling we want them to have."

GCU will close the regular season at New Mexico State (4-11-1, 4-8-1 WAC) on Friday before returning home for the WAC Tournament, which will send its champion to the NCAA tournament.