Last-minute goal exchange caps No. 11 Arkansas’ win

Sunday, September 17

Fayetteville, Ark.

11 a.m.

Grand Canyon

6-3-1, 0-0-0

Arkansas

6-2-1, 1-0-0

Grand Canyon

Arkansas

Photo by: Walt Beazley

9/17/2023 1:43:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Lopes led twice with Gourley, Valdez scoring in 3-2 road loss

By: Jerob Moon

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Grand Canyon women's soccer team was just 53 seconds away from a hard-fought draw at No. 11 Arkansas on Sunday.

In a game that the Lopes led 1-0 thanks to a first-half goal by Gianna Gourley, it was fellow senior forward Bekah Valdez that found the 2-2 equalizer with 53 seconds left in the match.

However, the 11th-ranked Razorbacks (6-2-1) had one final push and were able to score the game-winner with 16 seconds to go, capping off a 3-2 thriller at Razorback Stadium.

The Lopes (6-3-1) went toe to toe with their SEC counterpart and held the lead for most of the first half after Gourley's 10th goal of the season in the 11th minute. Midfielder Leah Pirro and forward Hannah Smith led the GCU counter attack as Smith's back post cross found Gourley, who redirected the ball to the far side of the goal for the Lopes' first shot on goal in the match.

With the goal, Gourley sits at 44 for her career and becomes the first Lope to score double-digit goals in three consecutive seasons.

Up 1-0, the Lopes had to withstand a barrage of Arkansas shots for the remainder of the half that kept GCU junior goalkeeper DeAira Jackson busy with five saves. The Razorbacks outshot GCU 16-4 and finally broke through with two goals 98 seconds apart in the final two minutes of the half to take a 2-1 lead.

Arkansas kept the GCU defense busy in the second half, as Jackson finished the game with a season-high 10 saves, one off her career best.

Meanwhile, the Lopes were able to generate the bulk of their scoring opportunities late in the match. Gourley and Pirro had shots on goal in the 83rd and 87th minutes, respectively, but both were saved.

GCU broke through with an equalizer in the 89th minute on the goal by Valdez. The sequence started with a goal kick by Jackson, which the Lopes worked up the right side of the field. In the final third, Gourley quickly reversed the ball and found Valdez in space. Valdez slotted the ball past the goalkeeper with a short-side shot to tie the match at 2-2 with 53 seconds left.

On the ensuing kickoff, the Razorbacks quickly pushed the ball up the field and freshman Bella Field fired a shot from outside the penalty box with 16 seconds left that took a bounce and went past a diving Jackson to put Arkansas up 3-2 just 37 seconds after the Lopes scored.

Despite the loss, the Lopes will look to carry the momentum of battling a ranked SEC opponent on the road into conference play this week. GCU will host Seattle U on Thursday night and Utah Valley on Sunday to kick off WAC play.