6-goal shootout ends in draw at Utah State

Sunday, August 28

Logan, Utah

12 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Utah State

8/28/2022 3:14:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

GCU's Gourley scores pair of 2nd-half goals in offensive showcase

By: Jerob Moon

LOGAN, Utah – The Grand Canyon women's soccer team wrapped up the opening road trip of the season with a 3-3 draw at Utah State.

It was an entertaining first matchup between the two programs. GCU (2-1-1) battled back from a 2-1 halftime deficit and held a 3-2 lead before Utah State (2-0-2) scored an equalizer in the 79th minute.

"What a crazy game this was, just an incredible match between two really good teams," Lopes head coach Chris Cissell said. "Utah State has a great team and I have a lot of respect for their coaching staff and the job they do. They jumped on us early in the fifth minute and it was 2-1 at halftime. But we really challenged our team, and I was proud of our soccer family and how we handled the adversity on the road."

The Lopes fell behind 1-0 in the fifth minute as an uncharacteristic defensive mistake redirected the ball in front of the goal and led to an uncontested shot by Utah State's Sara Taylor.

Up 1-0, the Aggies moved to a conservative style of play and the Lopes had to battle multiple defenders when in the attacking zone. GCU midfielders AJ Loera and Jaycee Iranshad had good scoring opportunities in the 27th and 33rd minutes, respectively, but a goalkeeper save and a shot off the crossbar kept the Lopes off the board.

GCU finally broke through in the 41st minute on a goal by junior forward Magdalena Schwarz. The transfer from High Point cut into the box, received a right-footed cross from sophomore forward Renee Sainz and volleyed it off the crossbar and into the net for her first GCU goal.

The 1-1 tie was short-lived, as Utah State countered with a goal 58 seconds later to take a 2-1 lead into halftime.

The Lopes regrouped during the break and came out strong offensively, taking the lead in less than 10 minutes with two goals by team captain Gianna Gourley.

In the 51st minute, Gourley put pressure on the Utah State goalkeeper as she received a pass in the penalty box. As the keeper attempted to clear the ball, Gourley deflected it into the net to tie the match at 2-2.

Gourley wasn't done as the junior forward scored her second goal of the game off a penalty kick three minutes later to give GCU a 3-2 lead.

Utah State responded again with another equalizer in the 79th minute to knot the score at 3-3.

With 15 seconds remaining, Utah State almost scored a winning goal, but GCU sophomore goalkeeper Jordan Ferguson made a kick save near the far post for her lone save of the match.

The Lopes will return home for an anticipated home match against Arizona on Thursday at 7 p.m. at GCU Stadium. Attendance will be free for all fans to the first GCU sporting event with students on campus this season. The Lopes will honor the 2021 WAC regular-season and postseason championships with a pregame ring ceremony.