Late penalty gives GCU 2-1 win at UNLV

Sunday, October 12

Las Vegas, Nev.

12 p.m.

Grand Canyon

8-6-0, 3-3-0

UNLV

3-8-4, 1-2-3

Grand Canyon

UNLV

Photo by: Brayden Stenner

10/12/2025 4:08:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Lopes defense just allows 2 shots on goal

By: Braden Dohrmann

LAS VEGAS – A late-match penalty kick goal from sophomore forward Reese Clem earned Grand Canyon a tough 2-1 road conference win at UNLV on Sunday.

GCU (8-6, 3-3 Mountain West) trailed 1-0 at the half but two second-half goals hit pay dirt to give the Lopes an important three points in the MW standings. After entering the day tied with the Rebels, GCU moved into third place with four matches to go.

The Lopes deserved the win, according to the stat sheet, after outshooting the Rebels 18-8 and only allowing UNLV two shots on goal.

"Really proud of the team and the resiliency they showed today," GCU head coach Chris Cissell said. "It is really difficult for any team to play four straight matches on the road, so for us to come from behind today and earn this result is very impressive."

In the 31st minute, the Rebels (3-8-4, 1-2-3 MW) capitalized on one of those shots on goal with a Kylie Camp goal that snuck past a diving save attempt by junior goalkeeper Emma Knack.

GCU senior midfielder AJ Loera got the scoring going for the Lopes early in the second half with left-footed banger in the 50th minute. Senior forward Hannah Smith attempted to sneak a pass to freshman midfielder Caprice Chiuchiolo in the box, but it was cleared away. The clearance was not sufficient, however. Loera appeared out of thin air on the ball and placed a beautiful left-footed ball into the net's top-left quadrant for her first goal of the season.

The Lopes' offensive third added pressure the rest of the half, finally breaking through in the 80th minute. Sophomore forward Ellie Johannes dribbled into the box, attempting to evade surrounding defenders. Her leg was taken out, and a penalty was awarded.

Clem stepped up to the call, scoring GCU's first penalty kick goal of the season and her fourth goal of the season. While the UNLV goalkeeper guessed right, she could not get her hands on the well-kicked shot to the bottom-left quadrant of the frame.

"Reese showed great confidence and courage to step up and bury that shot," Cissell said.

GCU had missed five straight regular-season PK attempts dating back to 2023, giving Clem's score a feeling of a curse being lifted in those scenarios.

The Lopes started five freshmen and three players making their first starts of the season. After a rough-go Thursday at New Mexico, the coaching staff changed the lineup for a new look. Johannes and Clem, who contributed on the game-winning goal, both came off the bench for the first time this season but played late-match moments to earn GCU's third conference win.

The Lopes finished their toughest stretch on the schedule, a four-match road streak, at 2-2. They return to the GCU Stadium pitch next Thursday for a 7 p.m. conference match vs Wyoming (7-4-4, 2-2-2 MW).