Completed Event: Women's Soccer at Oregon on August 31, 2025 , Win , 2, to, 0
W Soccer
at Oregon
W 2-0
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Photo by: David Kadlubowski
Cissell releases 2025 schedule in new conference
7/22/2025 1:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer
GCU's expectations remain high for Mountain West debut season
Grand Canyon women's soccer head coach Chris Cissell announced the team's regular-season schedule, including the program's first Mountain West Conference slate that follows a competitive nonconference schedule.
"We are super excited about all of the challenges the Mountain West presents," Cissell said. "It will be interesting to play new teams and travel to new parts of the country. We expect to compete right away in this prestigious conference."
The Lopes rematch four teams from their 2024 schedule, when GCU went 3-1 against those opponents.Â
During nonconference play, the Lopes host four matches at the beautiful GCU Stadium with an Aug. 8 exhibition match vs. New Mexico State and three regular-season home tilts.Â
The first of the Lopes' three nonconference home matches is the season opener against UC Irvine on Aug. 14. GCU faces a second Big West program a week later when it travels to Cal State Northridge. Last season's top two Big West teams, Hawaii and UC Davis, will join the Lopes in the Mountain West in the fall of 2026.
The largest nonconference road trip of the year takes GCU to the Pacific Northwest in late August. The Lopes play at Portland State and Oregon over the extended weekend of Aug. 28-31.
The nonconference slate finishes with two home matches against former WAC foe Sam Houston State and Idaho, as well as in-state matches at Arizona and Northern Arizona. The Lopes faced both in-state opponents at home last season, losing 1-0 to Arizona on Opening Night and beating NAU 1-0 in front of a program record home crowd.
"We are excited about the fun and tough nonconference schedule we put together," Cissell said. "We hope that the Havocs, GCU fans and the local soccer community will come to support us at home and even in Flagstaff and Tucson this season."
The Lopes' first season of Mountain West competition will consist of a 10-match conference schedule, split with five road and five home matches. GCU opens Mountain West play with home matches against San Diego State and Air Force. The match with the Aztecs expects to be one of the best conference openers after SDSU finished fourth last season.Â
Grand Canyon knocked off Air Force 2-0 in Hawaii last season for the Outrigger No Ka Oi Championship and will look to match that result in its second Mountain West contest.
GCU's toughest stretch on the schedule follows that homestand, as the Lopes play four consecutive road matches at Nevada, San Jose State, New Mexico and UNLV — all within a two-week timetable. Grand Canyon won 1-0 at Nevada last year.
Later in the schedule, GCU finishes the regular season with home matches against defending Mountain West regular-season champion Boise State before a season finale against Colorado College.
Each of the conference's 13 teams receive one bye during the six-week Mountain West season, and GCU's new-look squad will receive its break after the regular-season finale, allowing for more off-time before a hopeful Mountain West Championship in Boise, Idaho.
There certainly will be hurdles to climb with Cissell's revamped roster facing a tougher conference. After a large senior class exited in the spring, 15 returners are joined by 15 newcomers for this season. The newcomers consist of seven transfers and eight incoming freshmen. Many transfers and a few freshmen will be asked to take on big roles immediately.
"Having 15 new players mesh with 15 returners is something I have never experienced in my career," Cissell said. "However, we have a such a great family atmosphere and team-first mentality that I know will bring these girls together and help everyone buy in for another great season."
Season tickets can be purchased here. The package includes access to all 10 home matches for just $40.
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"We are super excited about all of the challenges the Mountain West presents," Cissell said. "It will be interesting to play new teams and travel to new parts of the country. We expect to compete right away in this prestigious conference."The Lopes rematch four teams from their 2024 schedule, when GCU went 3-1 against those opponents.Â
During nonconference play, the Lopes host four matches at the beautiful GCU Stadium with an Aug. 8 exhibition match vs. New Mexico State and three regular-season home tilts.Â
The first of the Lopes' three nonconference home matches is the season opener against UC Irvine on Aug. 14. GCU faces a second Big West program a week later when it travels to Cal State Northridge. Last season's top two Big West teams, Hawaii and UC Davis, will join the Lopes in the Mountain West in the fall of 2026.
The largest nonconference road trip of the year takes GCU to the Pacific Northwest in late August. The Lopes play at Portland State and Oregon over the extended weekend of Aug. 28-31.
The nonconference slate finishes with two home matches against former WAC foe Sam Houston State and Idaho, as well as in-state matches at Arizona and Northern Arizona. The Lopes faced both in-state opponents at home last season, losing 1-0 to Arizona on Opening Night and beating NAU 1-0 in front of a program record home crowd.
"We are excited about the fun and tough nonconference schedule we put together," Cissell said. "We hope that the Havocs, GCU fans and the local soccer community will come to support us at home and even in Flagstaff and Tucson this season."
The Lopes' first season of Mountain West competition will consist of a 10-match conference schedule, split with five road and five home matches. GCU opens Mountain West play with home matches against San Diego State and Air Force. The match with the Aztecs expects to be one of the best conference openers after SDSU finished fourth last season.Â
Grand Canyon knocked off Air Force 2-0 in Hawaii last season for the Outrigger No Ka Oi Championship and will look to match that result in its second Mountain West contest.
GCU's toughest stretch on the schedule follows that homestand, as the Lopes play four consecutive road matches at Nevada, San Jose State, New Mexico and UNLV — all within a two-week timetable. Grand Canyon won 1-0 at Nevada last year.
Later in the schedule, GCU finishes the regular season with home matches against defending Mountain West regular-season champion Boise State before a season finale against Colorado College.
Each of the conference's 13 teams receive one bye during the six-week Mountain West season, and GCU's new-look squad will receive its break after the regular-season finale, allowing for more off-time before a hopeful Mountain West Championship in Boise, Idaho.
There certainly will be hurdles to climb with Cissell's revamped roster facing a tougher conference. After a large senior class exited in the spring, 15 returners are joined by 15 newcomers for this season. The newcomers consist of seven transfers and eight incoming freshmen. Many transfers and a few freshmen will be asked to take on big roles immediately.
"Having 15 new players mesh with 15 returners is something I have never experienced in my career," Cissell said. "However, we have a such a great family atmosphere and team-first mentality that I know will bring these girls together and help everyone buy in for another great season."
Season tickets can be purchased here. The package includes access to all 10 home matches for just $40.
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