GCU travels to NAU, hosts UNLV

Friday, September 3

Flagstaff, Ariz.

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Northern Arizona

9/2/2021 1:05:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Lopes return to GCU Stadium on Sunday afternoon

By: Jerob Moon


Grand Canyon Lopes (3-1)	vs	Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (0-4)	UNLV Rebels (3-1)
		Friday, Sept. 3 7 p.m.	Sunday, Sept. 5 1 p.m.
Match Notes		Live Video Live Stats	Live Video Live Stats

The Grand Canyon women's soccer team wraps up a stretch of three straight road games on Friday at Northern Arizona before returning to host UNLV at GCU Stadium on Sunday.

The Lopes are coming off a 1-1 road trip in Texas last week. GCU recorded its third straight shutout in a 1-0 win at Incarnate Word before losing 2-1 at UTSA.

THREE THINGS TO KNOW

GOALS ALLOWED: The Lopes started last week's trip with a 1-0 win at Incarnate Word, extending a season-opening shutout streak to three games. At UTSA on Sunday, the Roadrunners scored on a penalty kick in the 61st minute, which was the first goal the GCU defense and goalkeeper Jordan Ferguson allowed in 335 minutes of game time. UTSA scored another goal less than two minutes later to hand the Lopes their first loss of the season.
SCHIMMER SHINES: Senior forward Marleen Schimmer led the GCU offense over the weekend, tallying an assist and scoring a goal in two games. Against Incarnate Word, Schimmer placed a perfect pass to forward Gianna Gourley, who scored what ended up being the game-winning goal in the 42nd minute. Against UTSA, Schimmer scored on a 30-yard rocket in the 86th minute for her first goal of the season.
TOP OF THE WAC: Through the first two weeks of the season, the Lopes lead the WAC in most major offensive categories, including goals (10), assists (10), points (30) and shots (88). Ferguson also leads WAC goalkeepers with a 0.51 goals against average.

SCOUTING

Northern Arizona has started the season with the 14th-toughest schedule in the country, leading to an 0-4 record. The Lumberjacks suffered three straight 2-1 losses to Utah State, Utah Valley and Arizona. Against Oregon on Sunday, NAU held a 2-1 lead through the first 30 minutes before the Ducks scored three straight goals to win 4-2.

Four players have scored for NAU this season while senior forward Madison Montgomery leads the team with 12 shots and eight on goal. Trinity Corcoran and Natalie Manzo have split time in goal with Manzo leading the way with 22 saves.

UNLV kicked off its season by hosting the Las Vegas Invitational, where the Rebels lost to WAC opponent Dixie State and won against UC Davis. Last week, the Rebels won 3-0 at Southern Utah and won in overtime against UC San Diego.

Redshirt junior Hevani Haunga leads UNLV in scoring and was the hero against UC San Diego, scoring a hat trick in just 25 minutes. The other six goals have come from six players while goalkeeper Charlotte Brisley has allowed four goals in three starts.

WHAT'S NEXT

GCU will host NAU, Denver and New Mexico in the four-match GCU Tournament from Sept. 9-11.
The Lopes will face Denver on Sept. 9 at and New Mexico on Sept. 11 with both games starting at 8 p.m.
Senior Night will take place on Sept. 11 with the ceremony beginning at 8 p.m.
NAU will face New Mexico and Denver in a pair of neutral-site matches.

For more GCU women's soccer news, notes and numbers, click here to view the match notes.