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Grand Canyon University Athletics
Photo by: David Kadlubowski
Jackson wins WAC Goalkeeper of the Year
10/31/2024 12:15:00 PM | Women's Soccer
GCU places 5 players on All-WAC teams after 5-1-1 conference season
The Grand Canyon women's soccer team was well represented with five players recognized for 2024 All-WAC honors.
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GCU senior captain goalkeeper DeAira Jackson was named WAC Goalkeeper of the Year and landed on the All-WAC first team with two other Lopes seniors — defender Sidney Roberts and midfielder Bella Piete. GCU junior midfielder AJ Loera earned All-WAC second-team honors alongside senior defender Destinee Duran-Wise.
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"It's really exciting for these five girls who have put so much work in this season," Lopes head coach Chris Cissell said. "We think we had a very well-rounded team this year, and there were probably more players on our team that deserved these honors. But we are most excited to use this as motivation and momentum for the team's biggest goal: winning a WAC Tournament championship and getting another berth to the NCAA tournament."DeAira Jackson, WAC Goalkeeper of the Year, All-WAC first team
Selected as the Preseason WAC Goalkeeper of the Year in August, the senior captain lived up to the hype and delivered a historic regular season for the Lopes. In just two years at GCU, Jackson broke the all-time program record for total shutouts (15). She did so by passing up her previous single-season program record (seven) by recording eight.
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Jackson limited opponents to just 14 goals all season, putting the current team goals against average at 0.78. Currently, that is the lowest a GCU defense has ever allowed.
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In her two seasons as a Lope, Jackson earned two All-WAC honors, 2023 All-WAC Tournament team, 2024 Outrigger No Ka Oi Tournament MVP and 2024 Preseason WAC Goalkeeper of the Year. She is a captain and on this year's leadership council.Sidney Roberts, All-WAC first team
In her third season as a starter for the Lopes, Roberts helped lead a GCU defense that dominated opponents all season, only allowing 74 shots on goal throughout the season and ranking 44th nationally for goals against average (0.78 per match). Roberts started every match in her three years with the Lopes and has only missed 12 minutes of game time this season, making her the team leader n minutes logged.
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Roberts, who is from Huntsville, Utah, was awarded WAC Defensive Player of the week twice, landed on the Outrigger No Ka Oi All-Tournament team, is team captain and part of the leadership council.ÂBella Piete, All-WAC first team
In her first season at Grand Canyon, the senior midfielder was an offensive weapon for the Lopes, leading the team in goals (three) and points (eight).
The Alpine, California, native joined the team in the spring of this year and has provided instant impact to a new-look offense. Piete's attack-first mentality led her to offensive success and accomplishments.
She landed on the Outrigger No Ka Oi All-Tournament team after assisting and scoring a game-winner in both victories in Hawaii. She was also an Offensive WAC Player of the Week this season.Destinee Duran-Wise, All-WAC second team
Duran-Wise earned her first postseason award as a Lopes defender after a stellar season on the GCU back line.
The senior outside back led the GCU defense to eight shutouts and a 0.78 goals against average.
Duran-Wise was incredibly versatile throughout the season, a Swiss Army knife for the coaching staff who played many positions. She added a goal and assist on the season. Duran-Wise was a two-time WAC Defensive Player of the Week, an Outrigger No Ka Oi All-Tournament selection and a team captain who is on the leadership council.AJ Loera, All-WAC second team
AJ Loera had another impactful season in the midfield for GCU. A consistent starter when healthy, the Lopes junior midfielder led the team in assists (four) and points (eight).
Loera has received all-conference recognition in each of the three seasons she has played at GCU. She received All-WAC Freshman Team and All-WAC first team the past two seasons. Loera went 1-1 on penalty kicks this season, making a game-winner. She finished the regular season with an impressive .433 shots-on-goal percentage. Â
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GCU senior captain goalkeeper DeAira Jackson was named WAC Goalkeeper of the Year and landed on the All-WAC first team with two other Lopes seniors — defender Sidney Roberts and midfielder Bella Piete. GCU junior midfielder AJ Loera earned All-WAC second-team honors alongside senior defender Destinee Duran-Wise.
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"It's really exciting for these five girls who have put so much work in this season," Lopes head coach Chris Cissell said. "We think we had a very well-rounded team this year, and there were probably more players on our team that deserved these honors. But we are most excited to use this as motivation and momentum for the team's biggest goal: winning a WAC Tournament championship and getting another berth to the NCAA tournament."
DeAira Jackson, WAC Goalkeeper of the Year, All-WAC first team
Selected as the Preseason WAC Goalkeeper of the Year in August, the senior captain lived up to the hype and delivered a historic regular season for the Lopes. In just two years at GCU, Jackson broke the all-time program record for total shutouts (15). She did so by passing up her previous single-season program record (seven) by recording eight.Â
Jackson limited opponents to just 14 goals all season, putting the current team goals against average at 0.78. Currently, that is the lowest a GCU defense has ever allowed.
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In her two seasons as a Lope, Jackson earned two All-WAC honors, 2023 All-WAC Tournament team, 2024 Outrigger No Ka Oi Tournament MVP and 2024 Preseason WAC Goalkeeper of the Year. She is a captain and on this year's leadership council.
Sidney Roberts, All-WAC first team
In her third season as a starter for the Lopes, Roberts helped lead a GCU defense that dominated opponents all season, only allowing 74 shots on goal throughout the season and ranking 44th nationally for goals against average (0.78 per match). Roberts started every match in her three years with the Lopes and has only missed 12 minutes of game time this season, making her the team leader n minutes logged.Â
Roberts, who is from Huntsville, Utah, was awarded WAC Defensive Player of the week twice, landed on the Outrigger No Ka Oi All-Tournament team, is team captain and part of the leadership council.Â
Bella Piete, All-WAC first team
In her first season at Grand Canyon, the senior midfielder was an offensive weapon for the Lopes, leading the team in goals (three) and points (eight).The Alpine, California, native joined the team in the spring of this year and has provided instant impact to a new-look offense. Piete's attack-first mentality led her to offensive success and accomplishments.
She landed on the Outrigger No Ka Oi All-Tournament team after assisting and scoring a game-winner in both victories in Hawaii. She was also an Offensive WAC Player of the Week this season.
Destinee Duran-Wise, All-WAC second team
Duran-Wise earned her first postseason award as a Lopes defender after a stellar season on the GCU back line.The senior outside back led the GCU defense to eight shutouts and a 0.78 goals against average.
Duran-Wise was incredibly versatile throughout the season, a Swiss Army knife for the coaching staff who played many positions. She added a goal and assist on the season. Duran-Wise was a two-time WAC Defensive Player of the Week, an Outrigger No Ka Oi All-Tournament selection and a team captain who is on the leadership council.
AJ Loera, All-WAC second team
AJ Loera had another impactful season in the midfield for GCU. A consistent starter when healthy, the Lopes junior midfielder led the team in assists (four) and points (eight).Loera has received all-conference recognition in each of the three seasons she has played at GCU. She received All-WAC Freshman Team and All-WAC first team the past two seasons. Loera went 1-1 on penalty kicks this season, making a game-winner. She finished the regular season with an impressive .433 shots-on-goal percentage. Â
Major WAC awards |
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| Award | Player | School |
| Offensive Player of the Year | Faith Webber | Utah Valley |
| Co-Defensive Player of the Year | Kait Raffensperger | Seattle U |
| Co-Defensive Player of the Year | Haley Funn | Utah Valley |
| Goalkeeper of the Year | DeAira Jackson | GCU |
| Freshman of the Year | Kate Shirts | Utah Valley |
| Coach of the Year | Chris Lemay | Utah Valley |
Players Mentioned
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