Chambers' 1st career goal propels Lopes to road win

Thursday, August 21

Northridge, Calif.

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

1-1-0, 0-0-0

CSUN

1-1-1, 0-0-0

Grand Canyon

CSUN

8/21/2025 9:56:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

GCU shuts out CSUN in 1st road match of season

By: Braden Dohrmann

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – Grand Canyon needed a bounce-back after a disappointing season opener, and a shutout at Cal State Northridge did just that Thursday night.

The Lopes' first road test came at CSUN (1-1-1), which recently shut out Mountain West foe San Jose State. GCU looked like the better team throughout the evening, controlling the possession and ultimately controlling the scoreboard for a 1-0 victory.

A 55th-minute goal by Kennedy Chambers was the difference, set up by a beautiful corner kick from sophomore outside back Samantha Amato and assisted when junior Madison Hamm's and sophomore Reese Clem's shots were deflected before the graduate transfer defender came to the rescue to score.

"It is very difficult to go on the road and get a win," GCU head coach Chris Cissell said. "We faced a good team that had built some confidence after their first week of play, so to come away with a win is exciting."

GCU (1-1) had not lost consecutive matches to open the season since 2020, while the Matadors had not won their home opener in 10 years. Both streaks continued Thursday evening.

The Lopes lost junior forward Neve Renwick to injury during training earlier this week, adding more adversity following last Thursday's season-opening loss. However, GCU rose to the occasion, coming out hot at CSUN with close offensive opportunities in the first few minutes.

Lopes sophomore center forward Ellie Johannes lasered a shot off the crossbar in the second minute, and the Lopes earned two corner kicks in the first five minutes after not registering a corner kick in their opening match.

"We certainly faced some adversity this week, on and off the field," Cissell said. "Our culture and mentality gave me no doubts that we would show up ready to win."

Chambers made her first start of the season, as well as freshman defender Mai-Helen Nguyen Todnem and senior forward Hannah Smith. Chambers tallied 82 minutes on the GCU back line that prevented a goal.

The Chandler, Arizona, native's goal was the first of her career after stints at Texas Tech and Kentucky brought her back to the Valley to finish her collegiate career.

Lopes junior goalkeeper Emma Knack rebounded nicely from a tough first match with her first Lopes shutout, recording six saves behind a stellar defense.

Offensively, the set pieces were the bright spot for GCU. Specifically Amato's service from the corners proved effective, with many opportunities being created from the sophomore's boot, and of course leading to the lone Grand Canyon goal on the night.

CSUN made a late push for an equalizer with the most gut-wrenching attempts coming from an 88th-minute free kick that made its way into the middle of the box before Knack put her body on the line and deflected the ball away to earn a foul and free kick.

Grand Canyon heads home for another week of training before returning to the road for its biggest nonconference road trip in Oregon. Next Thursday afternoon, the Lopes play at Portland State before driving to Eugene to face Oregon on Sunday.