Completed Event: Women's Soccer at CSUN on August 21, 2025 , Win , 1, to, 0
W Soccer
at CSUN
W 1-0
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Thursday, September 7
Brookings, S.D.
4 p.m.
Grand Canyon
4-2-1, 0-0-0
0
at
1
South Dakota State
6-1-0, 0-0-0
1
2
F
Grand Canyon
0
0
0
South Dakota St.
1
0
1
Photo by: David Kadlubowski
GCU falls 1-0 at South Dakota State
9/7/2023 6:30:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Lopes held scoreless for 1st time this season, go to North Dakota on Sunday
BROOKINGS, S.D. – The Grand Canyon women's soccer team suffered a 1-0 loss at South Dakota State on Thursday.
The Lopes (4-2-1) and Jackrabbits (6-1) were locked in a close match the whole way with the difference being a volley from South Dakota State's Maleah Evans that was redirected into the back of the net in the 38th minute.
GCU came out strong to start the match and controlled most of the possession with sophomore midfielder Leah Pirro generating the first scoring chance. She had a pair of shots on goal turned away in the 16th minute. Lopes senior forwards Gianna Gourley and Jaycee Iranshad also had goal-bound shots that were saved by Jackrabbits goalkeeper Jocelyn Tanner, who finished with five saves.
The first shot on goal for the Jackrabbits was the one that put them ahead 1-0, as Evans volleyed a cross into the left side of the box. The shot unexpectedly deflected off a player and tucked into the right side of the goal. GCU attempted a late surge to end the half, taking a corner kick in the 42nd minute but they were unable to generate a scoring chance.
The second half was a stalemate, but GCU again had early opportunities in the period. Pirro and Gourley had shots on goal in the 51st and the 58th minutes, but they were saved by Tanner. Those were the last shots on target for GCU for the rest of the match, but the Lopes still finished with a 5-3 edge in shots on goal.
The score nearly became 2-0 for the Jackrabbits, but the Lopes were able to save the ball off the goal line after a South Dakota State corner kick.
Thursday's loss snaps a 391-minute scoreless streak by the GCU defense and this was the first shutout loss for the Lopes this year. GCU was playing without its head coach, Chris Cissell, whose mother passsed last weekend in Missouri.
GCU will be back in action on Sunday as the road trip concludes at North Dakota at 11 a.m. (Phoenix time)
The Lopes (4-2-1) and Jackrabbits (6-1) were locked in a close match the whole way with the difference being a volley from South Dakota State's Maleah Evans that was redirected into the back of the net in the 38th minute.
GCU came out strong to start the match and controlled most of the possession with sophomore midfielder Leah Pirro generating the first scoring chance. She had a pair of shots on goal turned away in the 16th minute. Lopes senior forwards Gianna Gourley and Jaycee Iranshad also had goal-bound shots that were saved by Jackrabbits goalkeeper Jocelyn Tanner, who finished with five saves.
The first shot on goal for the Jackrabbits was the one that put them ahead 1-0, as Evans volleyed a cross into the left side of the box. The shot unexpectedly deflected off a player and tucked into the right side of the goal. GCU attempted a late surge to end the half, taking a corner kick in the 42nd minute but they were unable to generate a scoring chance.
The second half was a stalemate, but GCU again had early opportunities in the period. Pirro and Gourley had shots on goal in the 51st and the 58th minutes, but they were saved by Tanner. Those were the last shots on target for GCU for the rest of the match, but the Lopes still finished with a 5-3 edge in shots on goal.
The score nearly became 2-0 for the Jackrabbits, but the Lopes were able to save the ball off the goal line after a South Dakota State corner kick.
Thursday's loss snaps a 391-minute scoreless streak by the GCU defense and this was the first shutout loss for the Lopes this year. GCU was playing without its head coach, Chris Cissell, whose mother passsed last weekend in Missouri.
GCU will be back in action on Sunday as the road trip concludes at North Dakota at 11 a.m. (Phoenix time)
Team Stats
GCU
SDSU
Goals
0
1
Shots
10
11
Shots on Goal
5
3
Saves
1
5
Corners
3
3
Fouls
10
7
Scoring Plays
Maleah Evans (1)
GOAL by SDSU Evans, Maleah.
37:25
Game Leaders
Players
mid
Shots
4
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
4
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
Kendra Potts Post Match Press Conference | GCU vs NAU 9.7.25
Monday, September 08
"Your Life Arizona" Featuring Vice President of Athletics Jamie Boggs
Friday, September 05
Kaleb Smith | Media Availability | 9.3.25
Thursday, September 04
Dusty Stromer | Media Availability | 9.3.25
Thursday, September 04