Completed Event: Women's Soccer versus UC Irvine on August 14, 2025 , Loss , 1, to, 4
W Soccer
vs UC Irvine
L 1-4
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Friday, August 19
Phoenix, Ariz.
10 a.m.
Grand Canyon
1-0-0, 0-0-0
3
vs
1
Hawaii
0-1-0, 0-0-0
1
2
F
Hawaii
0
1
1
Grand Canyon
2
1
3
Opening win starts Thursday, ends Friday
8/19/2022 1:20:00 PM | Women's Soccer, Paul Coro
Gourley's 2 goals keep GCU lead on Hawaii after overnight weather delay
This Grand Canyon women's soccer team leads games in its sleep.
The Lopes' season began with a 3-1 victory against Hawaii in a game that they led 1-0 before a Friday night storm suspended play until Saturday morning, when junior forward Gianna Gourley added two goals to put away the win at GCU Stadium.
With six first-year Lopes starting the season opener, GCU continued the momentum of a program that won WAC regular-season and postseason titles last season and has only lost five of its last 31 games.
The Lopes went to bed Friday night with the game halted in the 27th minute and leading 1-0 on junior forward Bekah Valdez's goal. Gourley, the WAC Preseason Offensive of the Player, backed up her acclaim by providing a two-goal cushion twice on Saturday with 39th- and 77th-minute scores.
GCU outshot Hawaii 20-4 with the Rainbow Wahine's goal being the only shot on goal.
"It was more mentally tough than physically tough to play 27 minutes last night, sit around for two hours deciding whether we were going to play or not, go back home and get back early for breakfast at 7 a.m. and playing at 10," GCU head coach Chris Cissell said. "It felt like it was a 16 1/2-hour game."
Before nearby lightning halted play Friday night, the Lopes took a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute on an opportunity created by redshirt freshman midfielder Leah Pirro, who sat out last season at GCU after transferring from San Diego.
Pirro used a double move to pass into the box for junior forward Lindsey Prokop, who set up Valdez for a top-of-the-box blast through the goalkeeper's hands on a diving save attempt.
"The chemistry is already built in here," said Valdez, who followed Pirro from San Diego to GCU this year. "The team is very open and we're all very close. They created a tight-knit community. Everyone is for each other, which is what I love about this team."
Cissell was proud of the teamwork on that double-assist goal, but even the Lopes' unassisted score took teamwork to lead to Gourley's special finish.
Less than 12 minutes after resuming play Saturday, Pirro split two Hawaii players to get the ball to Gourley. Still 70 yards away from the goal, Gourley hit the gas on a speed dribble as sophomore forward Renee Sainz drew defenders on a run-through sprint.
Gourley eluded five Hawaii players and pulled away from one while dribbling before chipping over the goalkeeper from 20 yards for a 2-0 lead.
"Her first goal was amazing," Cissell said. "She turned and used her speed. She's a lot quicker than people realize. That chip she had was just beautiful. That's a ball that is a very tough thing to do, running at full speed and chip the keeper."
Gourley joked that a run like that might have sidelined her for the rest of the game a year ago. The Las Vegas native improved her conditioning vastly this offseason after scoring seven of her 10 goals in a five-game conference stretch last season.
"That might be one of my first actual chips on the run of play, rather than like on a bouncing ball," Gourley said. "If Renee didn't make that draw-out run, it couldn't have been possible."
Hawaii tightened the GCU lead to 2-1 early in the second half, when sophomore defender Sidney Roberts had to break up a potential tying breakaway minutes later. After two near GCUÂ goals apiece by Pirro and Valdez, Gourley's second goal provided the final cushion.
Sophomore defender Aleisha Ganief, who played with Gourley at Iowa two seasons ago, used her off-foot to line a 30-yard pass over the Hawaii defense and to Gourley. On the second bounce, Gourley popped it over the charging goalkeeper for a 3-1 lead in the 77th minute.
"I wasn't expecting to get two chips in one game," Gourley said. "Aleisha played a great ball. I just saw her (the goalkeeper) hesitate and thought, 'Why not chip her again?' It (the pass) fell perfectly to the ground. Just perfect one and two and goal."
Every healthy Lopes non-goalkeeper played in the opener with eight freshmen making collegiate debuts for GCU.
The Lopes next face a fellow 2021 NCAA tournament qualifier on Sunday night, when defending Summit League champion South Dakota State visits GCU Stadium at 7 p.m. The Jackrabbits tied 1-1 at Arizona State in another game that was completed Friday morning after starting Thursday night.
"Winning the first game with so many new players, so many freshmen playing their first-ever collegiate game and then all these transfers getting integrated into playing their first official game in our stadium and our style, I'm just happy we came away with the win," Cissell said.
"It was more exciting to hold them to four shots total and only one shot on frame. With such a new defensive unit, that was exciting to see how they did in their first real competitive match."
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The Lopes' season began with a 3-1 victory against Hawaii in a game that they led 1-0 before a Friday night storm suspended play until Saturday morning, when junior forward Gianna Gourley added two goals to put away the win at GCU Stadium.With six first-year Lopes starting the season opener, GCU continued the momentum of a program that won WAC regular-season and postseason titles last season and has only lost five of its last 31 games.
The Lopes went to bed Friday night with the game halted in the 27th minute and leading 1-0 on junior forward Bekah Valdez's goal. Gourley, the WAC Preseason Offensive of the Player, backed up her acclaim by providing a two-goal cushion twice on Saturday with 39th- and 77th-minute scores.
GCU outshot Hawaii 20-4 with the Rainbow Wahine's goal being the only shot on goal.
"It was more mentally tough than physically tough to play 27 minutes last night, sit around for two hours deciding whether we were going to play or not, go back home and get back early for breakfast at 7 a.m. and playing at 10," GCU head coach Chris Cissell said. "It felt like it was a 16 1/2-hour game."
Before nearby lightning halted play Friday night, the Lopes took a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute on an opportunity created by redshirt freshman midfielder Leah Pirro, who sat out last season at GCU after transferring from San Diego.
Pirro used a double move to pass into the box for junior forward Lindsey Prokop, who set up Valdez for a top-of-the-box blast through the goalkeeper's hands on a diving save attempt.
"The chemistry is already built in here," said Valdez, who followed Pirro from San Diego to GCU this year. "The team is very open and we're all very close. They created a tight-knit community. Everyone is for each other, which is what I love about this team."Cissell was proud of the teamwork on that double-assist goal, but even the Lopes' unassisted score took teamwork to lead to Gourley's special finish.
Less than 12 minutes after resuming play Saturday, Pirro split two Hawaii players to get the ball to Gourley. Still 70 yards away from the goal, Gourley hit the gas on a speed dribble as sophomore forward Renee Sainz drew defenders on a run-through sprint.
Gourley eluded five Hawaii players and pulled away from one while dribbling before chipping over the goalkeeper from 20 yards for a 2-0 lead.
"Her first goal was amazing," Cissell said. "She turned and used her speed. She's a lot quicker than people realize. That chip she had was just beautiful. That's a ball that is a very tough thing to do, running at full speed and chip the keeper."
Gourley joked that a run like that might have sidelined her for the rest of the game a year ago. The Las Vegas native improved her conditioning vastly this offseason after scoring seven of her 10 goals in a five-game conference stretch last season.
"That might be one of my first actual chips on the run of play, rather than like on a bouncing ball," Gourley said. "If Renee didn't make that draw-out run, it couldn't have been possible."
Hawaii tightened the GCU lead to 2-1 early in the second half, when sophomore defender Sidney Roberts had to break up a potential tying breakaway minutes later. After two near GCUÂ goals apiece by Pirro and Valdez, Gourley's second goal provided the final cushion.Sophomore defender Aleisha Ganief, who played with Gourley at Iowa two seasons ago, used her off-foot to line a 30-yard pass over the Hawaii defense and to Gourley. On the second bounce, Gourley popped it over the charging goalkeeper for a 3-1 lead in the 77th minute.
"I wasn't expecting to get two chips in one game," Gourley said. "Aleisha played a great ball. I just saw her (the goalkeeper) hesitate and thought, 'Why not chip her again?' It (the pass) fell perfectly to the ground. Just perfect one and two and goal."
Every healthy Lopes non-goalkeeper played in the opener with eight freshmen making collegiate debuts for GCU.
The Lopes next face a fellow 2021 NCAA tournament qualifier on Sunday night, when defending Summit League champion South Dakota State visits GCU Stadium at 7 p.m. The Jackrabbits tied 1-1 at Arizona State in another game that was completed Friday morning after starting Thursday night.
"Winning the first game with so many new players, so many freshmen playing their first-ever collegiate game and then all these transfers getting integrated into playing their first official game in our stadium and our style, I'm just happy we came away with the win," Cissell said.
"It was more exciting to hold them to four shots total and only one shot on frame. With such a new defensive unit, that was exciting to see how they did in their first real competitive match."
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Team Stats
UH
GCU
Goals
1
3
Shots
4
20
Shots on Goal
1
8
Saves
5
0
Corners
1
6
Fouls
9
8
Scoring Plays
Bekah Valdez (1)
Assisted By: Leah Pirro , Lindsey Prokop
GOAL by GCU Valdez, Bekah Assist by Pirro, Leah and Prokop, Lindsey.
10:38
Gianna Gourley (2)
GOAL by GCU Gourley, Gianna.
38:45
Krista Peterson (1)
Assisted By: Zoe Park , Kelci Sumida
GOAL by UH Peterson, Krista Assist by Park, Zoe and Sumida, Kelci.
49:15
Gianna Gourley (2)
Assisted By: Aleisha Ganief
GOAL by GCU Gourley, Gianna Assist by Ganief, Aleisha.
76:17
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
7
SOG
4
Goals
2
Assists
0
Shots
4
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
mid
Shots
4
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
2
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
1
Players Mentioned
D
/ Women's SoccerF
/ Women's SoccerM
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's SoccerF
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