Gourley's scoring streak continues in 2-0 win

Thursday, August 31

Phoenix, Ariz.

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

3-1-1, 0-0-0

UTSA

3-2-0, 0-0-0

UTSA

Grand Canyon

Photo by: David Kadlubowski

8/31/2023 10:02:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

Lopes record 3rd straight home shutout in front of 1,603 fans

By: Jerob Moon

The Grand Canyon women's soccer team picked up another home shutout win on Thursday night, defeating UT San Antonio 2-0 at GCU Stadium.

The Lopes (3-1-1) were led once again by senior forward Gianna Gourley, who scored two more goals in front of 1,603 fans at GCU Stadium. That makes four consecutive matches with a goal and brings her season total to seven goals, tying her for the third most nationally this season. The Lopes' national assists leader, sophomore midfielder Leah Pirro, added another to her tally.

GCU junior goalkeeper DeAira Jackson anchored the defense and recorded her third shutout in the last four games despite having to withstand a duststorm for the final 15 minutes.

"What a crazy game," Lopes head coach Chris Cissell said. "In my whole life of coaching, I don't know thousands of games, I've never coached in a duststorm like this. It was absolutely crazy in the second half, so I am really proud of our team's grit. UTSA is very good and very well coached and they work extremely hard."

Phoenix, AZ August 31, 2023: GCU women's soccer beats the UTSA Roadrunners at GCU Stadium. Photo by: David Kadlubowski/ / GCU

Phoenix, AZ August 31, 2023: GCU women's soccer beats the UTSA Roadrunners at GCU Stadium. Photo by: David Kadlubowski/ / GCU

GCU controlled most of the possession in the first half, holding a 73%-to-27% advantage, which led to a 10-2 shot advantage. In the 28th minute, the Lopes were finally able to break through as sophomore forward Hannah Smith and junior outside back Destinee Duran-Wise were able to create space with overlapping runs down the left side.

Smith found Duran-Wise on the edge of the box and her quick pass to Gourley in the middle opened up space for Gourley to shoot into the back of the net.

"What I'm really proud of was the passing tonight," Cissell said. "The assists on both goals were unbelievable and deserving of double assists because of the quick passing, which we like to do."

The second half was more of the same as the Lopes controlled the possession and forced UTSA (3-2) into awkward positions defensively. GCU was able to capitalize in the 53rd minute on a UTSA mistake as senior forward Bekah Valdez was fouled in the box, leading to a penalty kick. Gourley took the shot and nearly scored but a diving save from the Roadrunners' Mia Krusinski kept the GCU lead at 1-0.

That score didn't last much longer. Just three minutes later, Gourley got redemption and doubled GCU's lead. Off a UTSA goal kick, Pirro gained possession and, with a long pass from junior forward Ani Jensen, quickly found Gourley in space. The captain was able to sidestep a diving goalkeeper and finish with a short-side shot for her seventh goal of the season.

Gourley has now scored seven goals in the last four games, including five in the last two after registering a hat trick against CSU Bakersfield just four days ago.

That 2-0 lead was all the GCU defense needed to close out the game, as a duststorm rolled into the stadium with 15 minutes left. The Lopes had to play into a heavy wind that blew dust WSOC dust storm

and trash into the face of the defense, but the back line and Jackson led the Lopes to the shutout win.

"It was a great performance by our goalkeeper and defensive unit with another shutout," Cissell added. "I was really happy to see students back. It's Welcome Week, and we had a huge crowd that helped us tonight. So I want to thank the Havocs and everyone for coming out to support us."

The Lopes will wrap up the homestand on Sunday, when they welcome Oregon to GCU Stadium at 1 p.m. It will be the first-ever meeting between the programs.