Lopes keep intensifying attack but played from behind nearly all match
By: Paul Coro
TUCSON – Grand Canyon women's soccer seemingly had recorded every result possible in its three previous matches against Arizona – a win, a loss and a draw that cumulatively had even-goal differential.
Sunday's 5-2 loss at Arizona was a different sort of defeat for the Lopes, who statistically fared well with the Wildcats but did not finish as frequently. Maddie Brady
GCU put a season-high nine shots on goal and totaled 16 shots, just three fewer than Arizona while earning more corner kicks (Lopes 7-5) and fewer fouls (Wildcats 10-3).
"The real crazy thing is that it looks like a completely even match when you look at the stats," GCU head coach Chris Cissell said. "It's just one of those weird games that happens in soccer. They finished their chances, and we didn't."
Cissell said his players' legs did not seem as fresh as the Wildcats (5-3), who were idle this week while the Lopes (4-3) won at home Thursday night before traveling to Mulcahy Soccer Stadium.
Before sophomore forward Ellie Johannes and freshman Caprice Chiuchiolo notched their first GCU goals in the second half, the Lopes began playing from behind in the match's sixth minute.
Arizona threaded a pass between GCU defenders in the box for sophomore forward Jessica Bedolla's goal past charging Lopes goalkeeper Emma Knack.
The Lopes created a string of offensive threats over the next eight minutes, but the potential tying shots were blocked or off the mark.
When a GCU punt did not clear its end, Arizona pounced with sophomore forward Narissa Fults setting up sophomore forward Aurora Gaines' goal to put the Wildcats ahead 2-0 in the 20th minute.
The Lopes kept threatening with junior midfielder AJ Loera powering a 25-yard shot just over goal in the 22nd minute and missing a penalty kick to the left in the 38th minute.
Meanwhile, Knack was keeping the Arizona lead at 2-0 by handling a three-shot deluge from Arizona and punching away or grabbing corner kicks.
Via an entry by sophomore defender Samantha Amato, a run by GCU senior forward Hannah Smith and her own work, Johannes was applying early second-half offensive pressure before her breakthrough goal. Ellie Johannes (left)
Johannes, GCU's season leader in shots (and on-goal shots), cut the Wildcats lead to 2-1 in the 64th minute when Amato sent the ball ahead for Smith on the left side of the box, where Smith's cross found Johannes in the goal box for a one-touch score.
"It's definitely a team effort, and we all had unbelievable shots," Johannes said. "I was just lucky enough to get it in. I couldn't have asked for a better cross from Hannah Smith. She gave it to me on a platter. She did all the hard work. That was more her goal than mine."
The momentum flip was fleeting. Thirty-one seconds later, Arizona's lead went to 3-1 when a through ball set up senior midfielder Sami Baytosh to deliver a cutback pass for senior defender Ella Hatteberg's second career goal.
The next seven minutes were dedicated to GCU pressure, including Johannes nearly scoring again on a rocketed diagonal shot that required a diving save. Johannes put four shots on goal Sunday.
"We definitely have a very lethal offense," Johannes said. "We have a lot of amazing attackers. We're working together. We're figuring it out."
After Lopes senior forward Payton Fisher nearly scored on a well-struck shot off sophomore midfielder Tatum Hofstetter's pass, Arizona made its first shot in 17 minutes count for a 4-1 lead. In the 83rd minute, Wildcats junior forward Ella Weathersby scored her first career goal on a rebound.
"We've been such a great defensive team," said Cissell, whose team had allowed one goal over the previous five matches. "We just weren't as fit and healthy and fresh as we needed to be against such a good team." Caprice Chiucholo Caprice Chiuchiolo then subbed in for the remainder and capitalized for a career moment. On freshman forward Maya Paeske's assist, the Gilbert Christian High School graduate sent a blast through the goalkeeper's hand for a goal to make it a 4-2 match.
"We still had the perseverance and dedication throughout the entire second half to keep working for a goal," Chiuchiolo said. "It didn't really feel real. I'm really excited for what's to come and to just continue with GCU and the amazing program that we have."
The Lopes will stay on the road and in Arizona this week with a Thursday match at Northern Arizona (3-1-4), which will lead into GCU's Mountain West home debut against San Diego State a week later.
"That showed that we can compete against high-level teams like U of A, and we're going to do amazing in the Mountain West," Johannes said. "I have a lot of faith in us."
Despite its highest opponent goal total since a 6-0 NCAA Tournament loss at USC in 2021, Cissell is encouraged with elements of Sunday's match on short rest.
"I'm anxious to watch the game again because I feel like there's going to be a lot of things that we're going to see that were really positive and a lot of things we can build on," Cissell said. "It's exciting that we created so many legit scoring opportunities against such a good team, even on the road."
