WAC play begins at California Baptist

Saturday, September 17

Riverside, Calif.

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

California Baptist

9/16/2022 1:20:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Lopes officially begin conference title defense in Riverside

By: Jerob Moon

Saturday, Sept. 17 | 7 p.m. | Riverside, Calif. | CBU Soccer Stadium


Grand Canyon Lopes (4-2-1)	at	California Baptist Lancers (3-1-2)
	Live Video Live Stats

The Grand Canyon women's soccer team will kick off WAC play at California Baptist on Saturday night. The Lopes begin their defense of the WAC regular-season title after a tough nonconference slate to start the season.

Saturday's game will streamed live on ESPN+.

3 THINGS TO KNOW

ROAD WARRIORS: The Lopes are used to starting conference play on the road. Since 2013, GCU has played the first WAC match on the road eight times, compared to starting with home matches in the springs of 2021 and 2014. The silver lining for the Lopes is they are unbeaten on the road this season, amassing a 2-0-1 record. GCU will welcome Seattle U and Utah Valley to GCU Stadium at the turn of the month for the next homestand.
WAC LEADER: Junior forward Gianna Gourley has been the top offensive option for the Lopes heading into conference play. The GCU team captain leads the WAC with six goals and 13 points. Gourley scored four goals in a three-match stretch from Aug. 28-Sept. 1 and has tallied a point in five of the seven matches this season.
NEW CAREER-HIGH: Graduate transfer goalkeeper Shantel Hutton made her GCU debut last week and set a new career high with nine saves against Arkansas. The Texas A&M transfer faced 18 shots against the reigning SEC champions and her nine saves are the second most by a WAC goalie this season.

SCOUTING
California Baptist kicked off the season with a cross-country trip that featured matches at Bryant and Merrimack in New England. The Lancers are in the midst of a five-match homestand that concludes Sept. 24 against Seattle U. Senior defender Erin Gallagher was the lone Lancer on the Preseason All-WAC team and has started four matches in the back line. Senior midfielder Karley Weeks has scored all three of her goals in the last two matches and she leads CBU with six points this season.