Record crowd boosts Lopes to historic win

Thursday, September 1

Phoenix, Ariz.

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

3-1-1, 0-0-0

Arizona

2-1-1, 0-0-0

Arizona

Grand Canyon

9/1/2022 10:27:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

Gourley's goal downs Arizona 1-0, evens all-time series record against Wildcats to 1-1

By: Jerob Moon

The Grand Canyon women's soccer team, cheered on by a record-breaking crowd of 3,241 fans at GCU Stadium, took down Arizona 1-0 on Thursday night.

Lopes junior forward Gianna Gourley scored the game-winning goal in the 54th minute and GCU (3-1-1) shut down Arizona (2-1-1) for the remainder of the game.

PHOENIX, AZ -Sep 01, 2022: Grand Canyon beats the University of Arizona 1-0 at GCU Stadium.

"That was a great game," Lopes head coach Chris Cissell said. "I thought the crowd gave us a ton of energy and a ton of excitement and I'm super proud of the team to get the first win over a Power 5 team and an in-state rival like Arizona. We hope all the fans loved it and enjoyed it and want to come back for our next match."

Cissell can add this win to an already impressive resume in his short time as the GCU head coach. The Lopes are now 26-7-4 in their last 37 matches, including a 15-4-1 record at home.

The game-winning goal started with a great defensive play by freshman midfielder AJ Loera, who regained possession from an Arizona player and immediately found Gourley with a lofted ball behind the Wildcat back line. Gourley caught the goalkeeper out of position and floated her chip shot into the back of the net for her fifth goal of the season.

PHOENIX, AZ -Sep 01, 2022: Grand Canyon beats the University of Arizona 1-0 at GCU Stadium.

"Chris and I talked about staying at home and not drifting up and I was sitting on top of the line," Gourley said. "AJ played a beautiful, lofted ball over. I think the goalie froze a little bit, and I just chipped it over."

The defensive play by Loera was a just a snapshot of the lockdown defense that GCU showed against Arizona. The Wildcats finished with just six shots and one on goal, which was saved by GCU sophomore goalie Jordan Ferguson in the 73rd minute. The Lopes have limited four of their first five opponents to six shots or fewer this season, allowing just two goals in those matches.

"I think we killed it, I really do," Loera said. "We've been talking about communication in the locker room and after last game, where we gave up some goals. Our whole back line killed it today. It was just amazing."

Before the match started, the Lopes honored the 2021 WAC title team with a ring ceremony that featured current and former players, including current San Diego Wave forward Marleen Schimmer. The Havocs also unveiled the 2021 WAC title banner inside GCU Stadium.

"It was a nice feeling, I haven't seen a lot of those girls in a long time," Gourley said. "We just took a minute and all hugged and shared a moment. They hyped us up for the game and I thought the returners were very happy to see everyone and get to work."

The Lopes had chances to take a lead in the first half, but a long-distance shot by Pirro went high and sophomore midfielder Ani Jensen came off the bench and hit the crossbar on a shot in the 40th minute.

The defense withstood four Arizona corner kicks in the final five minutes of each half and didn't allow a shot on goal in any of the set-piece opportunities. Sophomore defenders Aleisha Ganief and Sidney Roberts led the GCU back line by playing all 90 minutes, while outside backs Reese Mendenhall, a sophomore, and Emma Wackman, a freshman, played 86 and 82 minutes, respectively.

"The fans, the Havocs, the students being here with the pep band was just awesome," Cissell said. "It was just an incredible atmosphere."

The Lopes will be back in action on Sunday when they travel to New Mexico to take on the reigning Mountain West champs at noon (Phoenix time).