Lopes draw with Utes after Hamm stunner

Thursday, August 22

Salt Lake City, Utah

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

1-1-1, 0-0-0

Utah

1-0-1, 0-0-0

Grand Canyon

Utah

8/22/2024 10:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

GCU sophomore midfielder's 1st career goal comes in massive moment

By: Braden Dohrmann

SALT LAKE CITY — Grand Canyon managed one shot on goal Thursday night, but it was just enough to force a road draw against a good Utah squad.

Sophomore midfielder Madison Hamm's left-footed strike from well outside of the box was the equalizer for the Lopes in the 85th minute of a 1-1 final.

"Resiliency" is a word that reflects how GCU found the answer after a game in which nothing really had gone its way. The Lopes (1-1-1) were outshot 14 to 3, with six of the Utes' shots on goal.

"This was a big-time, gritty performance on the road against a very good Big 12 team," GCU head coach Chris Cissell said. "This result makes us super proud of the entire GCU soccer family."

It took grit from the beginning, as Utah jumped to a 1-0 lead within the first 10 minutes. A big presence at the center-forward position, Utah's Taliana Kaufusi took a cross in the box and headed it past the outstretched hands of senior goalkeeper DeAira Jackson in the ninth minute.

The Lopes remained on their heels throughout the first half, rarely finding rhythm within the offensive scheme and getting outmatched physically.

After a halftime message, the physicality flipped. GCU came out more aggressive in the second half, offensively making more runs at goal and defensively setting the tone. Jackson ended with five saves, making multiple crucial stops in the second half.

The physicality may have been taken too far in the 54th minute when Lopes senior captain Destinee Duran-Wise collected her second yellow card of the short season.

In the 85th minute, GCU junior midfielder AJ Loera was surrounded by three Utah defenders just above the box. As she moved toward the goal, the ball was deflected backward to Hamm, and the rest was history.

Hamm, not known for her shotmaking, took a clean, left-footed shot that could not have been placed in a better spot — the top-left quadrant of the net. It was her first career collegiate goal after only attempting three shots last season.

"What a great shot," Cissell said. "Super proud of her to have the confidence to step up and take a shot like that with her opposite foot from that far out. It was an absolute banger."

A deep dive into the stat sheet showed a tough night for the Lopes, but it was about quality over quantity to escape Salt Lake City with a draw.

GCU will take on Little Rock on Sunday at 7 p.m. at GCU Stadium.