Home tie starts MW play after late UNLV PK goal - Grand Canyon University Athletics

Sunday, September 27

Phoenix, Ariz.

1 p.m.

Grand Canyon

4-2-4, 0-0-1

UNLV

3-4-3, 1-0-1

Team	1	2	Final F
UNLV	0	1	1
Grand Canyon	0	1	1

Photo by: David Kadlubowski

9/27/2026 4:18:00 PM | Women's Soccer, Paul Coro

Box Score Photo Gallery

GCU's Adams scored in 58th minute before tying goal came in 81st minute

By: Paul Coro

Nine minutes away from Grand Canyon opening Mountain West play with a win, three minutes of video review changed the scope of their Sunday, their placement in the standings and their mood until next game.

After no-call contact on the field, a three-minute video review issued GCU a foul in the box and gave UNLV a corresponding penalty kick that the Rebels made to snatch a 1-1 tie Sunday at GCU Stadium.
Phoenix, AZ Sept. 27, 2026: The Lopes tie UNLV 1-1 in their Mountain West opener at GCU Stadium. David Kadlubowski/GCU

Phoenix, AZ Sept. 27, 2026: The Lopes tie UNLV 1-1 in their Mountain West opener at GCU Stadium. David Kadlubowski/GCU

The Lopes (4-2-4, 0-0-1 MW) recorded their fourth 1-1 draw result of the season, but this one hits different as a conference opener. On their way to a win worth three points in the MW standings, GCU exited with one point for its conference-high fourth tie.

Stellar as usual, the Lopes defense was minutes away from its fifth shutout of the season and still has not allowed more than one goal in a match.

"I'm sure the four opponents and four opposing coaches would disagree with me, but I think we should've won all four games we drew," GCU head coach Chris Cissell said. "In three, we were up 1-0. We've been saying all week, 'One goal's not enough.' We can't take our foot off the pedal. We need to go make it 2-0, 3-0."

After a 10-day layoff, GCU did not attempt its first shot Sunday until the 15th minute when sophomore Mai-Helen Nguyen Todnem sent an 18-yard try over goal.
Phoenix, AZ Sept. 27, 2026: The Lopes tie UNLV 1-1 in their Mountain West opener at GCU Stadium. David Kadlubowski/GCU

GCU freshman forward Makayla Gwynn came off the bench with a pair of shots, one of which needed to be deflected over goal. She made one of the plays of the game at the opposite goal. UNLV's Makena Siaki put a header over goalkeeper Emma Knack, but Gwynn backed her teammate up and cleared the net-bound ball with a header.

"Gwynn did a good job, and that's why she earned the start in the second half," Cissell said. "I thought Lia (D'Afonseca) played really well as a freshman too and the center-mid role. She got a lot more minutes than we anticipated because (Taylor) Gerst went out injured."

Halftime adjustments created a push with four early shots, two by junior Samantha Amato and one that Gwynn banked wide with her body on a pass from Amato.

In the 58th minute, GCU senior Ellie Johannes took an errant ball with a full head of steam through the midfield and passed wide left into the box to fellow striker Amanda Adams. After beating one Rebels defender on the dribble, Adams launched a tough-angled shot that glanced off the near goalpost and beat the goalkeeper for a 1-0 Lopes lead.
Phoenix, AZ Sept. 27, 2026: The Lopes tie UNLV 1-1 in their Mountain West opener at GCU Stadium. David Kadlubowski/GCU

"I saw the space and just put my head down and went for it," Adams said. "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. I've been waiting for it for a while. I've had a lot of opportunities. I've been working a lot with my coaches and teammates on the side. We're putting in the work and getting the reward for it."

Adams also scored in the Aug. 20 game against Buffalo and shares the Lopes' scoring lead (eight points) with Johannes.

"Amanda has that ability," Cissell said. "She could do that every game. She could do that more than once a game. She's that talented and has that much ability. Ellie was playing the 10 at the time and did a really good job of starting that attack for us."

The GCU defensive game plan contained UNLV top scorer Kaitlin Taylor to two shots (neither on goal) in her 83 minutes.

But with the Lopes taking three shots over the final 30 minutes, the Rebels remained in position to pounce on a break. They got it when referee Michael Matson asked for a video review after UNLV defender Madison Encinas fell at the top of the box as a free kick sailed over her.
Phoenix, AZ Sept. 27, 2026: The Lopes tie UNLV 1-1 in their Mountain West opener at GCU Stadium. David Kadlubowski/GCU

Matson called a foul for Guzman's body jumping into the back of Encinas with a bent forearm held tightly high.

UNLV's Ana De Los Santos scored on the penalty kick under Knack's diving try for a 1-1 tie and nine minutes remaining.

"When we go up 1-0, I'm still nervous," Cissell said. "We are elite enough defensively that we should be able to shut it down, but anything can happen in soccer."

With the Lopes' back line of sophomore Elle Stanley, fifth-year Adelaide Wolf and senior co-captain Madison Hamm playing the entire match, UNLV (3-4-3, 1-0-1 MW), tallied two shots on goal besides the penalty kick.

"Our defense killed it," Adams said. "It was just unlucky what happened at the end. I'm so proud of them. They work so hard for us.

"I hope this lights a fire under us. That's what we need."

GCU stays home for a 7 p.m. Saturday match against New Mexico, which opened conference play by beating San Jose State 3-0 on Thursday and Nevada 5-2 on Sunday.