GCU makes trip to L.A. in search of 4th straight win

Sunday, September 8

Los Angeles, Calif.

1 p.m.

Grand Canyon

LMU

Photo by: David Kadlubowski

9/7/2024 2:30:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Lopes look for 1st true road victory, face future WCC foe LMU

By: Braden Dohrmann

Sunday, Sept. 8 \| 1 p.m. (Phoenix time) \| Sullivan Field \| Los Angeles, California

	LMU LIONS (3-2)	vs.	GRAND CANYON LOPES (4-1-1)

WATCH: ESPN+ \| STATS: View

Grand Canyon looks for its fourth straight victory and first true road win of the young season when it plays Sunday at Loyola Marymount.

Grand Canyon enters its final season in the WAC, coming off the program's second WAC Tournament title and NCAA tournament appearance.
GCU received votes in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll last week for the first time in program history.
Senior defender Sidney Roberts received WAC Defensive Player of the Week for Aug. 26-Sept. 1/
Sophomore midfielder Madison Hamm received WAC Defensive Player of the Week for Aug. 19-25.
Senior DeAira Jackson received WAC Goalkeeper of the Week for Aug. 15-18.
Senior defender Aleisha Ganief, junior midfielder AJ Loera and Jackson received Preseason All-WAC recognition. Jackson was named the conferene's Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year.
The Lopes have 12 players with an assist through the first six matches of the season.
Forward Reese Clem has started in all six matches this season. She is the lone freshman to start for the Lopes. Clem scored the team's first goal of the season in the fifth minute of the Charleston Southern match. She is the team co-leader with two goals.
The Lopes went 2-0 in Hawaii, beating North Dakota State and Air Force with shutouts.
Each goal included a different goal-scorer and passer in those two matches.
GCU has not dropped a match in 24 days (lost 1-0 to Arizona on Aug. 15).

GCU beat Air Force in the Outrigger No Ka Oi Championship match at Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Stadium in Hawaii.
There were no shots on goal in the first half from either team.
Lopes senior midfielder Bella Piete scored the game-winning goal in the 81st minute off a through ball from junior forward Maddie Brady.
Junior forward Hannah Smith put the GCU win away with a 90th-minute score, making it a 2-0 final.

GCU received three votes in the last United Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll. This is a first in program history,
The Lopes are also ranked the highest in program history in the United Soccer Coaches Pacific Region poll. They are ranked second, trailing national No. 11 Utah State.

This is the second all-time meeting between LMU and GCU.
The Lopes beat the Lions 2-1 at GCU Stadium on Sept. 14, 2023, on Grace Bartlett's game-winning goal.
LMU senior Kylie Dobbs has four goals this season, scoring in each Lion win..
Lions goalkeeper JJ Hoover has accumulated 15 saves on the season, starting all five matches.

The Lopes will face Northern Arizona at GCU Stadium on Sept. 12 at 7 p.m. (Phoenix time).
The match will involve a student "March to the Match" that expects to be the highest-attended home match of the year.