Completed Event: Women's Soccer versus UNLV on September 27, 2026 , Tie , 1, to, 1
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Grand Canyon University Athletics
11/11/2026 11:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Johannes makes All-MW 2nd Team, D'Afonseca an All-Newcomer
Grand Canyon women's soccer has two players receiving all-conference recognition for their excellent seasons on the pitch, leading the Lopes to another winning season in Phoenix.
GCU senior forward Ellie Johannes made the All-Mountain West second team alongside freshman midfielder Lia D'Afonseca, who made the Mountain West All-Newcomer Team in her first collegiate season.
"We are extremely proud of these two well-deserved players and their accolades," Lopes head coach Chris Cissell said. "Ellie led the team by example all year and in just about every offensive category for us. Lia had a phenomenal freshman year and the future is very bright with her in the midfield. We cannot wait to see what they two can accomplish for us next year."Ellie Johannes
Johannes led the team in goals with seven, the most by a GCU player in a single season over the last three years. Johannes tacked on five assists which also led the team for 19 total points on the year at the forward position.
Johannes was efficient with her opportunities, putting more than half of her shots on goal (.511), scoring the proram's first hat trick since 2023 in the Lopes 3-1 victory over Nevada. Johannes won MW Offensive Player of tthe Week after following up the Nevada performance with a game-winning assist in the win over San José State.
The local Glendale, Arizona native has now started 14/15 matches in her first two years at Grand Canyon, tallying nine goals and eight assists in those seasons. She returns with one more year of eligibility in 2027.Lia D'Afonseca
In her first season as a Lope, D'Afonseca quickly developed into a formidable midfielder that the GCU coaching staff could not keep off the pitch. D'Afonseca started the final nine matches of the year in conference play, recording at least 45 minutes in each contest.
Lia, who is a native of St. Charles, Missouri, recorded the most minutes by a freshman in the seven years Head Coach Chris Cissell has led the program. Her 1,147 minutes led to a MW Freshman of the Week honor during conference play when she assisted a goal in both wins over Nevada and San José State.
D'Afonseca finished the season with two assists, one assisting a game-winning goal. The freshman will have another four years of eligibility moving forward and projects to be a key piece to the future of the GCU Women's soccer program in the years ahead.
For the full list of athletes on the 2026 All-Mountain West teams, click here.
GCU senior forward Ellie Johannes made the All-Mountain West second team alongside freshman midfielder Lia D'Afonseca, who made the Mountain West All-Newcomer Team in her first collegiate season.
"We are extremely proud of these two well-deserved players and their accolades," Lopes head coach Chris Cissell said. "Ellie led the team by example all year and in just about every offensive category for us. Lia had a phenomenal freshman year and the future is very bright with her in the midfield. We cannot wait to see what they two can accomplish for us next year."
Ellie Johannes
All-MW second team
Johannes led the team in goals with seven, the most by a GCU player in a single season over the last three years. Johannes tacked on five assists which also led the team for 19 total points on the year at the forward position.Johannes was efficient with her opportunities, putting more than half of her shots on goal (.511), scoring the proram's first hat trick since 2023 in the Lopes 3-1 victory over Nevada. Johannes won MW Offensive Player of tthe Week after following up the Nevada performance with a game-winning assist in the win over San José State.
The local Glendale, Arizona native has now started 14/15 matches in her first two years at Grand Canyon, tallying nine goals and eight assists in those seasons. She returns with one more year of eligibility in 2027.
Lia D'Afonseca
MW All-Newcomer Team
In her first season as a Lope, D'Afonseca quickly developed into a formidable midfielder that the GCU coaching staff could not keep off the pitch. D'Afonseca started the final nine matches of the year in conference play, recording at least 45 minutes in each contest.Lia, who is a native of St. Charles, Missouri, recorded the most minutes by a freshman in the seven years Head Coach Chris Cissell has led the program. Her 1,147 minutes led to a MW Freshman of the Week honor during conference play when she assisted a goal in both wins over Nevada and San José State.
D'Afonseca finished the season with two assists, one assisting a game-winning goal. The freshman will have another four years of eligibility moving forward and projects to be a key piece to the future of the GCU Women's soccer program in the years ahead.
For the full list of athletes on the 2026 All-Mountain West teams, click here.
Players Mentioned
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Wednesday, November 11
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