GCU falls to New Mexico at home

Saturday, September 11

Phoenix, Ariz.

8 p.m.

Grand Canyon

6-2-0, 0-0-0

New Mexico

4-2-0, 0-0-0

New Mexico

Grand Canyon

9/11/2021 11:20:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Lopes suffer 1st home defeat of season, fall 2-0 to Lobos

By: Jerob Moon

The Grand Canyon women's soccer team fell 2-0 to New Mexico on Saturday night at GCU Stadium for its first home loss of the season.

The Lobos (4-2) put the Lopes (6-2) in a deep hole early with two goals before the 20-minute mark and maintained control in the second half for the shutout.

New Mexico, which reached the NCAA tournament's second round last season, took the early lead on its first corner kick in the 12th minute. After the ball deflected off a Lobos player, the Lopes were unable to clear it, leading to point-blank shot and goal by New Mexico's Madi Hirschman.

GCU's defensive struggles continued five minutes later when goalkeeper Jordan Ferguson was caught out of goal on a high-arcing shot by the Lobos' Zaria Katesigwa. The ball passed Ferguson and crossed the goal line just before she was able to get a hand on it, putting New Mexico ahead 2-0.

GCU had good scoring chances in the 57th and 73rd minutes, when forwards Jaycee Iranshad and Lindsey Prokop had shots in front of goal, but both went just over the crossbar.

The Lopes were unable to maintain possession in the midfield and break out on the counter attack with crisp passing like they had done during a four-match winning streak.

Forward Marleen Schimmer paced the GCU offense with three shots, including one on goal. All three GCU goalies saw playing time, with redshirt juniors Kayla King and Hayden Wallace combining to keep New Mexico off the scoreboard in the second half.

Schimmer and Iranshad were named to the All-GCU Tournament team after combining for two goals and an assist in the Lopes' two games in the event.

Before the game, the Lopes honored 17 graduating players as part of Senior Night, including five fifth-year players who returned for an extra year of eligibility because of COVID waivers from last season.

The Lopes will look to regroup next week with a match at UC San Diego on Sept. 19.