Cissell earns 400th win in road rout

Saturday, September 25

St. George, Utah

6:30 p.m.

Grand Canyon

8-2-1, 1-0-1

Dixie State

4-8-0, 0-2-0

Grand Canyon

Dixie St.

Photo by: Taylor Hansen

9/25/2021 10:03:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Gourley scores 2nd half hat trick in 4-minute span

By: Jerob Moon

ST. GEORGE, Utah — The Grand Canyon women's soccer team wrapped up the opening road trip of WAC play with a convincing 5-1 victory over Dixie State on Saturday evening.

It was a special win for Lopes head coach Chris Cissell, who earned his 400th career win in his 32 seasons of collegiate soccer. And it was done in a momentous way, with junior forward Gianna Gourley recording a hat trick in a four-minute span of the second half.

Cissell has won 286 women's soccer games among William Jewell, Kansas City and GCU,while also earning 114 wins at the helm of the men's program at his alma mater, William Jewell, from 2002-10.

"First off, I just want to say thank you to all the players, coaches and administrators I have worked with over my career," Cissell said. "I love soccer and I have been blessed to have such a loving and supportive family and friends. I am so happy to share this accomplishment with all my current and former players and coaches. I have been blessed to work with so many great programs over the years."

The Lopes were electric on offense all night, turning in a five-goal performance for the second time this season while tallying 13 shots on goal in 16 attempts. GCU has scored 28 goals in 11 matches, giving it nine more goals than the nearest WAC challenger.

Most importantly, the Lopes picked up four points on the trip and sit atop the WAC West Division alongside Utah Valley after the teams tied on Thursday.

GCU opened the scoring in the 15th minute with a tap-in goal by senior forward Marleen Schimmer after the Dixie State goalkeeper blocked a shot from junior forward Dani Babb. Schimmer was in on GCU's second goal 18 minutes later, finding junior forward Lindsey Prokop with a long pass that led her to a left-footed shot inside the 18-yard box.

In the second half, it was Gourley's show as she recorded her first career hat trick for GCU in a four-minute span.

Gourley's first goal was a header that came off a cross from Schimmer on a set piece in the 77th minute.

Two minutes later, Gourley scored again for her first career multi-goal game, this time off a build-up play from midfielders Brenna Alderson and Haley Bostard who found Gourley breaking away from the Dixie State back line.

The Iowa transfer's third goal came in the 80th minute, when junior defender Tyler Ferguson lobbed a ball to Gourley in the box and she finished with a left-footed volley.

Gourley recorded GCU's first hat trick since Babb did so against Chicago State in 2019. Schimmer's two assists marked the most by a Lopes player since 2018.

Next up, the Lopes return home to GCU Stadium for matches against Seattle U on Friday and California Baptist on Oct. 3.