Opening win picks up where Lopes left off

Thursday, August 19

Phoenix, Ariz.

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

1-0-0, 0-0-0

Southeastern Louisiana

0-1-0, 0-0-0

Southeastern La.

Grand Canyon

8/19/2021 10:54:00 PM | Women's Soccer, Paul Coro

Box Score Photo Gallery

GCU controlled NCAA tourney qualifier at both ends in 3-0 home win

By: Paul Coro

The Grand Canyon women's soccer team knew it ascended to another level as a program in the second half of last season, but the Lopes could only believe the carryover would be there again when this season began.

Now they know.

GCU emerged Thursday night with the ideal opener, dominating the Southland Conference's defending champion and preseason favorite. The Lopes defeated Southeastern Louisiana 3-0 at GCU Stadium on the first night of GCU and NCAA athletics for 2021-22.

"What an unbelievable start to the season," Lopes head coach Chris Cissell said. "I don't think it could have gone any better. Not only to win, but we scored three absolutely beautiful, delicious team goals. And then to get the shutout. And we got 21 players playing time."

GCU had a seven-game unbeaten streak going last season before COVID-19 regulations and injuries took 12 players off the field for a season-ending WAC Tournament loss. But Thursday's effort looked like there had been no offseason, with the Lopes outshooting the Lions by a larger margin (22-3) than they did against any team during the previous regular season.

GCU junior forwards Jaycee Iranshad and Lindsey Prokop assisted each other's goals and Preseason All-WAC senior forward Marleen Schimmer assisted perfectly on a goal by junior forward Dani Babb.

The Lopes led 3-0 after 52 minutes against Southeastern Louisiana, which finished last season at No. 55 in the NCAA Ratings Percentage Index. GCU sophomore goalkeeper Tyler Ferguson's save on a Lions breakaway preserved the Lopes' fifth shutout in their past nine games and the defense matched last season's low for shots allowed.
Camryn Larson

"This is really good for us because this helps gain confidence and know that we are picking up where we left off," said Iranshad, who scored her 13th career goal on Thursday night. "We can have a lot of success."

Iranshad assisted on the opening goal in the 22nd minute after fifth-year forward Camryn Larson stole the ball near midfield. Iranshad split the defense and led Prokop with a pass down the middle of the field.

Prokop scored one goal last season after being the WAC Freshman of the Year in 2019, but showed how a committed offseason regained her form when she sent a shot past a charging goaltender and into the left side of the net.

"Based on what happened last season, I was so excited to get the first goal of the season and get the team going," Prokop said. "I think I came in with a lot of nerves last season and my team helped me settle down this season and show what I can do. I'm just so excited that my team has helped me so much through this transition to show me what I can do on and off the field."

Marleen Schimmer

Schimmer put one of her team-high seven shots off the left goalpost four minutes later, leading to a rebound and Larson header over the top of the goal. But GCU maintained the attack and scored after Babb won a 50-50 ball for Schimmer and raced down the left side of the field as Schimmer perfectly passed between two defenders.

Babb cut in as she collected Schimmer's touch and fired a 10-foot goal into the opposite side of the net.

"I'm always preaching placement over power, placement over power," Cissell said. "When Dani got in, you could tell she just passed the ball to the goal. We've been working on that mindset with our attacking players that you don't have to shoot it. You don't have to kill it. You don't have to hit it as hard as you can. You just have to place it there."

At this point, GCU already held an 11-2 shot advantage on Southeastern Louisiana, which ended last season by playing No. 22 Rutgers to a scoreless tie for 85 minutes before losing 1-0 in the NCAA tournament's first round.

But any idea of a Lions second-half rally was squelched less than six minutes into the second half, when Prokop returned the favor and passed across the box to set up a one-on-one situation for Iranshad on the right side.

Iranshad dragged the ball back with her left foot to set herself up for a 20-foot rocket into a tight opening at the upper-right corner of the goal.

"The dynamic of last season was there, plus better," Iranshad said. "We have really good additions to the team that help bring it up. Our chemistry is so good that we know when to play balls and when to make runs."

GCU did not take more shots in a game than it did Thursday night until the 10th match of last season.

"We looked further ahead in Game 1 than a lot of teams do," Cissell said. "We looked sharp and our movement and passing was better. The fact that we created 22 shooting opportunities in the first game is great. I definitely want us to put more shots on goal, but I'll take a 3-0 win over a team that was in the national tournament any day."

The Lopes return to GCU Stadium on Sunday to play Central Arkansas at 11 a.m.