GCU faces Utah Valley in WAC semifinal

Wednesday, November 1

Riverside, Calif.

4 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Utah Valley

Photo by: WAC

10/31/2023 3:07:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Fresh off 3-0 win, 4th-seeded Lopes take on top-seeded Wolverines

By: Jerob Moon

WAC Tournament semifinal | Wednesday, Nov. 1 | 4 p.m. | Riverside, Calif. | CBU Soccer Stadium


(4) Grand Canyon Lopes (12-4-4, 5-1-3 WAC)	vs.	(1) Utah Valley Wolverines (10-3-5, 7-0-2 WAC)
Match Notes	Live Video Live Stats

Fresh off a shutout win in the first round of the WAC Tournament, No. 4 seed Grand Canyon will take on No. 1 seed Utah Valley in a Wednesday afternoon semifinal from Riverside, California.

The match will be streamed live on ESPN+.

3 THINGS TO KNOW

FIRST-ROUND WIN: The Lopes took care of business in the opening round of the WAC Tournament, defeating fifth-seeded Utah Tech 3-0. GCU dominated possession and outshot the Trailblazers 25-6 in the match. Senior forward Bekah Valdez started the scoring in the 19th minute with an unassisted goal before WAC Offensive Player of the Year Gianna Gourley put the game out of reach with a pair of second-half goals.
20 FOR 30: With her two goals in the 57th and 76th minutes against the Trailblazers, Gourley broke her own GCU single-season scoring record set last year and became the first Lope to score 20 goals in a season. Gourley now has 48 career GCU goals in 62 appearances. She is the active Division I leader in goals (54) and second in points (126). She also ranks third nationally in goals scored this season.
SHUTOUT RECORD: Along with the offensive dominance in Sunday's win, the GCU defense set a new program record with the ninth shutout win, breaking the previous high of eight set in 2022. Junior goalkeeper DeAira Jackson made one save in the game while the GCU back line held the Trailblazers to just six shots. In 20 matches, the Lopes have allowed just 17 goals this season and just two in the past five games.

SCOUTING
Utah Valley captured its second consecutive WAC regular-season title with a 7-0-2 record while bringing a 12-match overall unbeaten streak into Wednesday's match. The Wolverines are looking for their second straight NCAA Tournament berth after earning an at-large bid last season.

Seven Utah Valley players earned All-WAC postseason honors, including three on the WAC All-Freshman Team. Defender Sydney Bushman was named WAC Co-Defensive Player of the Year as the UVU defense allowed just three goals in WAC play.

WHAT'S NEXT?

A win and the Lopes will advance to the WAC Tournament final for the second time in program history. The winner will play the Seattle U-California Baptist winner at 1 p.m. Saturday for the tournament championship and an NCAA tournament automatic qualification.

For more GCU women's soccer news, notes and numbers, click here to view the match notes.