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Grand Canyon University Athletics
Schedule features top opponents, division play
7/29/2021 12:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Fall slate includes season opener, loaded tournament at GCU Stadium
The Grand Canyon women's soccer team released its 19-game schedule for the fall season on Wednesday.
After playing in the spring because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lopes and second-year head coach Chris Cissell return to playing in the fall and look forward to a packed schedule that features four matches against NCAA tournament teams and the start of divisional play in the WAC.
"We have a phenomenal schedule for this fall with some great matchups for our fans to enjoy," Cissell said. "It is an extremely competitive schedule with tough matches in both nonconference and WAC play. Our soccer family is excited and ready for the season and I am thrilled about the quality schedule we have been able to put together for our players, GCU fans and students."
GCU returns 22 players, including 10 Lopes who started at least 10 games. All-WAC honorees Marleen Schimmer and Jaycee Iranshad bolster the offense after combining for 13 goals last season. A pair of All-WAC Freshman Team picks, goalkeeper Jordan Ferguson and midfielder Brenna Alderson, also return while transfers Mina Ghazizadeh, from San Diego, and Gianna Gourley, from Iowa, round out the squad. Gourley will bring NCAA tournament experience after a second-round run with the Hawkeyes in the spring.
After an exhibition at Arizona in Tucson on Aug. 14, the Lopes will open the regular season with matches against Southeastern Louisiana and Central Arkansas in GCU Stadium on Aug. 19 and 22, respectively.
The first road trip takes the team to San Antonio the following week for a pair of matches against Incarnate Word and UTSA.
The Lopes also are hosting the GCU Tournament from Sept. 9-11, when the Lopes play back-to-back matches against 2021 NCAA tournament teams Denver and New Mexico.
GCU will face West Division play for the first time in the WAC, with a newly formatted schedule that features home and away matches against five division opponents. The Lopes will play 10 matches against division foes California Baptist, Dixie State, New Mexico State, Seattle U and Utah Valley. Traditional regular-season conference foes Chicago State and UT Rio Grande Valley depart to the Southwest Division to welcome four new Texas based programs to the conference.
WAC play starts with an important trip featuring the WAC's reigning regular-season and tournament champion, Utah Valley, on Sept. 23 along with an ensuing match at Dixie State on Sept. 25. The Lopes will face the Trailblazers for the first time since Dixie State joined the WAC last year with last season's contest canceled because of COVID-19 regulations.
October will be a busy month filled with eight conference matches that include the regular-season home finales against Dixie State and Utah Valley on Oct. 28 and 30, respectively. The WAC Tournament will be hosted by Abilene Christian from Nov. 3-7.
After playing in the spring because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lopes and second-year head coach Chris Cissell return to playing in the fall and look forward to a packed schedule that features four matches against NCAA tournament teams and the start of divisional play in the WAC.
"We have a phenomenal schedule for this fall with some great matchups for our fans to enjoy," Cissell said. "It is an extremely competitive schedule with tough matches in both nonconference and WAC play. Our soccer family is excited and ready for the season and I am thrilled about the quality schedule we have been able to put together for our players, GCU fans and students."GCU returns 22 players, including 10 Lopes who started at least 10 games. All-WAC honorees Marleen Schimmer and Jaycee Iranshad bolster the offense after combining for 13 goals last season. A pair of All-WAC Freshman Team picks, goalkeeper Jordan Ferguson and midfielder Brenna Alderson, also return while transfers Mina Ghazizadeh, from San Diego, and Gianna Gourley, from Iowa, round out the squad. Gourley will bring NCAA tournament experience after a second-round run with the Hawkeyes in the spring.
After an exhibition at Arizona in Tucson on Aug. 14, the Lopes will open the regular season with matches against Southeastern Louisiana and Central Arkansas in GCU Stadium on Aug. 19 and 22, respectively.
The first road trip takes the team to San Antonio the following week for a pair of matches against Incarnate Word and UTSA.
The Lopes also are hosting the GCU Tournament from Sept. 9-11, when the Lopes play back-to-back matches against 2021 NCAA tournament teams Denver and New Mexico.
GCU will face West Division play for the first time in the WAC, with a newly formatted schedule that features home and away matches against five division opponents. The Lopes will play 10 matches against division foes California Baptist, Dixie State, New Mexico State, Seattle U and Utah Valley. Traditional regular-season conference foes Chicago State and UT Rio Grande Valley depart to the Southwest Division to welcome four new Texas based programs to the conference.
WAC play starts with an important trip featuring the WAC's reigning regular-season and tournament champion, Utah Valley, on Sept. 23 along with an ensuing match at Dixie State on Sept. 25. The Lopes will face the Trailblazers for the first time since Dixie State joined the WAC last year with last season's contest canceled because of COVID-19 regulations.
October will be a busy month filled with eight conference matches that include the regular-season home finales against Dixie State and Utah Valley on Oct. 28 and 30, respectively. The WAC Tournament will be hosted by Abilene Christian from Nov. 3-7.
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