Utah trip starts conference action for 7-2 Lopes

Thursday, September 23

Orem, Utah

10 a.m.

Grand Canyon

Utah Valley

9/22/2021 2:25:00 PM | Women's Soccer

GCU faces Utah Valley, Dixie State in 1st conference matches

By: Jerob Moon


Grand Canyon Lopes (7-2, 0-0 WAC)	vs	Utah Valley Wolverines (5-4, 0-0 WAC)	Dixie State Trailblazers (4-6, 0-0 WAC)
		Thursday, Sept. 23 10 a.m. (Phoenix time)	Saturday, Sept. 25 6:30 p.m. (Phoenix time)
Match Notes		Live Video Live Stats	Live Video Live Stats

The Grand Canyon women's soccer kicks off WAC play this week with matches at Utah Valley and Dixie State. The Lopes wrapped up nonconference play on Sunday with a 4-1 win over UC San Diego to improve their best start in program history to 7-2.

Thursday's game will be streamed on ESPN+ while Saturday's game will be broadcast on the WAC Digital Network, which is an international-only stream.

THREE THINGS TO KNOW

PROKOP EARNS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Junior forward Lindsey Prokop was named the WAC Offensive Player of the Week for the first time as a Lope on Monday. Prokop led the way for GCU against UC San Diego, scoring two goals off the bench, including a penalty kick goal with 12 seconds left in the first half.
LEADING THE WAC: GCU enters WAC play with the best record in the conference at 7-2, along with leading in four other team categories. The Lopes are first in goals (23), assists (19), points (65) and shutouts (four). Goalkeeper Jordan Ferguson leads the conference in goals against average at 0.82.
FIRST WAC MATCHUP: On Saturday, GCU and Dixie State will meet for the first time as Division I opponents despite the Trailblazers joining the WAC last season. Last season, two matchups were scheduled for February but were canceled because of COVID policies.

SCOUTING

Utah Valley is the reigning WAC co-regular season champion and WAC Tournament champion for defeating Seattle U in the title match at GCU Stadium. This year, the Wolverines have started 3-0 in their difficult nonconference schedule but dropped four of their last six matches against tough opponents such as USC, Alabama and Oklahoma.

The Utay Valley trio of Heather Stainbrook, Sadie Brockbank and Nicole Ray have combined for 12 of the team's 17 goals. Senior goalie Brooklyn Nielsen is back with the Wolverines after serving a two-year mission and leads the team with a 1.54 GAA and 19 saves.

Dixie State has one win in its past five matches after losing to Northern Arizona at home on Sunday. The Trailblazers also picked up nonconference wins against UNLV, North Dakota State, Idaho State and Southern Utah.

Dixie State's leading goal scorer from the spring, Whitley Griffiths, is back for her fifth season. The senior scored 10 goals last season and has three this season to lead the team. Goalkeeper Kayla Gonzales tops the WAC with 67 saves while boasting a 1.55 goals against average.