Lopes drop close one at Air Force

Sunday, October 11

USAF Academy, Colo.

12 p.m.

Grand Canyon

5-4-4, 1-2-1

Air Force

8-4-1, 3-2-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Grand Canyon	0	0	0
Air Force	1	0	1

Photo by: Braden Dohrmann

10/11/2026 6:15:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

GCU loses consecutive matches straight for 1st time this season

By: Braden Dohrmann

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – A 29th-minute Air Force score was the difference Sunday, as Grand Canyon fell 1-0 to drop its second consecutive road match.

GCU (5-4-4, 1-2-1 Mountain West) outshot and outpossessed the Falcons but were unable to find the back of the net at Cadet Soccer Stadium. Air Force (8-4-1, 3-2-0 MW) came into the match leading the MW in scoring but scored just once against what has been a stout GCU defense this season.

A first-half free kick just outside the box for Lopes senior forward Ellie Johannes was saved in the first half by Air Force goalkeeper Maeve Gayer. GCU sophomore Mai-Helen Nguyen Todnem drew the foul when she weaved through the Air Force defense before getting cut down just outside the box.

After Falcons reserve Clara Teigland chipped a score for Air Force, GCU saw another opportunity to equalize when sophomore Piper Carlson launched one of her patented throw-ins to the box, creating a scrum of players with the ball being narrowly missed by defender Adelaide Wolfe in front of the goal.

The Lopes pushed hard for a tying score in the second half, sending a flurry of attacks toward goal, including a cross that found Johannes in the box. The senior forward made good contact with a shot toward the far post, where it banged off the crossbar and cleared away.

Grand Canyon continued to play well defensively, as the team's fourth loss was also its fourth match without scoring a goal. When GCU scors, a draw or a win should follow, according to the numbers this season.

GCU will look to do just that next week with a great opportunity ahead. Nevada comes to Phoenix on Thursday and San José State on Sunday, when five Lopes will be honored for Senior Day.

Still just four conference matches into Mountain West play, the Lopes are a successful week away from not only being in the mix, but near the top of the conference standings.

Prior to the match, Air Force honored GCU junior Addie Valli and two Falcons, Gayer and Addie Doyle,for their respective battles with cancer. More on Valli's comeback can be read here.