Completed Event: Women's Soccer versus Arizona on August 12, 2026 , Win , 2, to, 0
W Soccer
vs Arizona
W 2-0
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Thursday, August 20
Phoenix, Ariz.
7 p.m.
Grand Canyon
vs
Buffalo
Photo by: David Kadlubowski
Lopes face 2 undefeateds over home weekend
8/19/2026 4:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer
GCU plays Buffalo, Texas each for 1st time in program history
Grand Canyon follows up a big home debut with two home matchups against Buffalo and Texas on Thursday and Sunday, respectively.
AT A GLANCE
- Each of the Lopes' opponents this week are 2-0, not allowing a goal in any of their opening matches last week.
- GCU's Sabrina Guzman and Sophia Rubano scored their first career collegiate goals in last week's win over Arizona.
- Emma Knack, Ellie Johannes and Amanda Adams were named to the Mountain West Preseason Watch List.
- Junior forward Ellie Johannes is the highest returning scorer from last year's team. She scored both goal in a 2-0 exhibition win at New Mexico State.
- Senior goalkeeper Emma Knack set the GCU Division I-era record for single-season saves (119) last season. She posted the top three MW single-match save totals last season (11 twice and 16).
- Grand Canyon finished its 2025 campaign at 8-8-2, the Lopes' first non-winning record in four years.
- Hannah Smith and AJ Loera joined the team in the last two weeks for their fifth years, due to recent NCAA eligibility rulings. Smith appeared in the opener and will likely return to GCU's track and field team in the spring after breaking a program record in the 4x100 relay last year.
- Johannes (El Salvador) and sophomore midfielder Caprice Chiuchiolo (Ecuador) played in international competition multiple times over the past calendar year.
LAST TIME OUT
- Grand Canyon beat Arizona 2-0 in the season opener at GCU Stadium.
- The GCU defense allowed just two shots on goal.
- The Lopes scored both goals in the second half of a three-hour match with two weather delays.
MOUNTAIN WEST QUICK FACTS
- Grand Canyon enters its second year in the Mountain West this fall. The new-look conference has five teams departing for the new Pac-12, while Hawaii, UC Davis and UTEP join as full-time members.
- The Mountain West Championship awaits the top four teams in the conference, starting Nov. 11 in Phoenix at GCU Stadium. The semifinals will take place on Nov. 11, with the championship match on Nov. 14.
- GCU was picked fourth in the MW preseason coaches poll.
SCOUTING BUFFALO & TEXAS
- This is the first meeting between Buffalo and GCU.
- Buffalo beat Niagara and Mercyhurst by 2-0 scores last week.
- The Bulls have not allowed a goal through their first two matches.
- This will be the first meeting between Texas and GCU.
- Texas won twice last week, beating Houston Christian and winning on the road at Pittsburgh.
- The Longhorns hired national champion head coach Margueritte Bates in the offseason.
WHAT'S NEXT?
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GCU finishes its four-match homestand with an Aug. 27 match against CSUN and hits the road to cap the weekend at UC Irvine.
Players Mentioned
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GK
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/ Women's SoccerFriday, August 21
Friday, August 21
Thursday, August 20
Friday, August 14