GCU drops 1st match since opener, loses 1-0 at LMU

Sunday, September 8

Los Angeles, Calif.

1 p.m.

Grand Canyon

4-2-1, 0-0-0

LMU

4-2-0, 0-0-0

Grand Canyon

LMU

9/8/2024 5:20:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Penalty kicks do not go Lopes' way in road defeat to Lions

By: Braden Dohrmann

LOS ANGELES — Grand Canyon was shut out by LMU on Sunday afternoon, when penalty kick outcomes swung the match.

GCU (4-2-1) showed another solid defensive effort, just allowing its fourth goal on the season. The goal came via penalty kick in the 45th minute and proved to be the difference to end the Lopes' five-match unbeaten streak.

As the final seconds of the first half were winding down, the Lions made a push toward goal when senior defender Sidney Roberts attempted to step in between the ball and attacker to box out the LMU forward. Roberts' contact drew a foul in the box and a yellow card.

"We did not think that was worthy of a penalty kick," GCU head coach Chris Cissell said. "Today was just not our day, and we will learn from it and get better."

LMU (4-2) took advantage of the call, as senior Kylie Dobbs scored on the penalty kick. Lopes senior goalkeeper DeAira Jackson anticipated right, lunging to her left and made contact with the ball, but it deflected into the inside of the goal. Dobbs has five goals on the young season with LMU (4-2) winning every match she has scored.

GCU has yet to allow multiple goals in a match, also dropping a 1-0 decision on Opening Night against Arizona, which is 5-1-1.

The Lopes had opportunities of their own, with the best one coming in the 59th minute. Senior midfielder Bella Piete was fouled in the penalty box and took the penalty kick for GCU. Her shot was on target but was saved by LMU goalkeeper JJ Hoover.

GCU junior midfielder AJ Loera had a free kick just minutes later that was inches from tying the match. She took her free kick just a couple yards north of the box, and her powerful kick made it past the outstretched arms of the keeper. To the Lopes dismay, the attempt hit the bottom of the crossbar and hit the back of the keeper, bouncing once toward the goal line before being retrieved.

The ball never managed to cross the goal line and the referees declared no goal after a lengthy review.

"We are super frustrated," Cissell said. "It was just one of those days that happens in sports, especially a sport like soccer. It is tough to go on the road and win and we learned that the hard way today."

The Lopes are working their way back to full health as Preseason All-WAC honoree AJ Loera returned to the pitch for 67 minutes off the bench Sunday after missing both matches in Hawaii last weekend. Transfer forward Aspen Whillock made her first appearance in a GCU uniform and logged 28 minutes.

A three-match winning streak comes to a close, but there is no time to dwell on it for GCU, which hosts Northern Arizona on Thursday night at GCU Stadium. The Lopes have that opportunity in front of what is expected to be the highest-attended home match of the season.

The match will be the first home game with students on campus and students attending will participate in "March to the Match", which travels through campus' Lopes Way to GCU Stadium.

The game kicks off at 7 p.m. (Phoenix time) and will be broadcast on ESPN+.