Offense gets back on track in 4-2 win

Friday, October 14

Phoenix, Ariz.

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

6-5-2, 2-3-1

Abilene Christian

4-6-3, 0-4-2

Abilene Christian

Grand Canyon

Photo by: Skyler Coblentz

10/14/2022 9:55:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Cissell reaches 300 DI women's soccer coaching wins with 4 Lopes scoring

By: Jerob Moon

The Grand Canyon women's soccer team, back in the front of the home crowd, defeated Abilene Christian 4-2 in a dominating performance on Friday night in GCU Stadium.

Junior forward Gianna Gourley kicked off the scoring just 75 seconds into the match as the Lopes (6-5-2, 2-3-1 WAC) continue to climb the WAC standings with the win and a three-match undefeated streak.

"Just happy to get the win tonight," GCU head coach Chris Cissell said. "We had a huge crowd out again tonight and we appreciate all the support from all the fans and Havocs tonight. This was a special night for us to score four goals and get 23 players on the field. Everyone on our soccer family that was healthy and available got to play tonight and log a lot of minutes. That's a positive to get the win and have that many people on the field."

Cissell made more history, becoming just the 26th active Division I women's soccer head coach to reach 300 career wins. It was also a special victory as the team wore pink socks in dedication to Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

"It was a special night for us with Pink Night, and Breast Cancer Awareness Month," Cissell added. "We're all wearing our pink socks, including myself, and it was an emotional night for me with my mom going through breast cancer right now. So I'm glad, on the night, we decided to celebrate all those battling this disease we came out with the win tonight too."

In the blink of an eye, the Lopes held a 1-0 lead with Gourley scoring on the first shot on goal for either team just 75 seconds into the game. The junior forward took a long through ball from junior winger Lindsey Prokop and finished with a right-footed shot from 15 yards to score her WAC-leading ninth goal of the season.

After Abilene Christian (4-6-3, 0-4-2 WAC) countered with a pair of shots, one saved by GCU graduate goakeeper Shantel Hutton, the Lopes countered with a second goal in the ninth minute. A cross by junior forward Bekah Valdez found Gourley, who collected it in the box and kicked it to a waiting Leah Pirro just outside the penalty box. Pirro, a redshirt freshman, fired a right-footed shot into the back of the net for her third goal to put GCU up 2-0.

In the 21st minute, the Lopes added on a third goal when freshman midfielder AJ Loera placed a great through ball to a waiting Brenna Alderson and the sophomore from Gilbert, Arizona, finished the one-on-one chance.

As in recent games, the Lopes shut down the ACU offense the rest of the half, allowing only four shots and one shot on goal saved by Hutton in the third minute.

Like in the first half, the Lopes scored an early goal to begin the second half. Just 62 seconds in, Valdez got in on the scoring party and finished a left-footed shot after build-up play in the midfield by Alderson and Loera.

GCU nearly recorded a shutout, but Abilene Christian scored two late goals in the 88th and 89th minutes to end the Lopes' 267-minute shutout streak.

Gourley, Valdez and Alderson recorded multi-point games while all three GCU goalies made an appearance and collected a save.

The Lopes will be back in action on Sunday when they welcome Tarleton to GCU Stadium at 1 p.m.