The Lopes moved to 2-0 in conference action Thursday night by downing Abilene Christian at GCU Stadium with their second consecutive 2-1 victory that was fueled by a pair of first-time scorers. With at least six games to go, these Lopes already have matched the 2021 team for most goal scorers (13) in a season of the program’s 12-year Division I era.
GCU (8-4-1, 2-0 WAC) outshot Abilene Christian 19-11 with goals from junior Grace Bartlett and graduate Alex Sampson, but the Lopes also needed a victory-preserving highlight save from senior goalkeeper DeAira Jackson.
GCU leaned on its defense for most of the season’s wins with five of its first six wins coming by shutout. But the Lopes have posted consecutive multi-goal games for the first time this season after also getting a pair of first goals from junior AJ Loera and senior Destinee Duran-Wise in Saturday’s win.
“The depth of this team is the key to our success,” GCU head coach Chris Cissell said after the program’s 100th Division I-era victory.
Sampson started the 19-shot Lopes onslaught by sending the first scare with a shot just over the crossbar in the 11th minute, but Abilene Christian had an even better chance when forward Chayse Thon’s breakaway shot clanked the right post.
In the 37th minute, GCU senior Mayu Yamamoto drew a foul that set up Bartlett’s 38th-minute goal on the ensuing free kick. With the booming leg that scored from almost exactly the same distance last season against Loyola Marymount, Bartlett powered a 35-yarder to the only part of the upper-left net that a leaping goalkeeper could not reach.
“Everyone always says the ‘Bartlett bomb,’ and I feel like I haven’t brought it out this year, so I had to,” Bartlett said. “Coming off the bench and making an impact is the biggest thing I want to do. It felt like tonight had to be the night.”
The midfielder from Overland Park, Kansas, scored less than six minutes after entering the match and finished with a season-high 32 minutes.
“Grace is going to earn more and more minutes with the way she’s playing,” Cissell said. “She gives us another element and helps with the overall depth.”
The most pivotal of Jackson’s four saves Thursday night came with GCU still leading 1-0 in the 56th minute.
Thorn received a pass in open space on the left side of the 18-yard box for a one-on-one opportunity. Jackson timed her approach to narrow the shooting angle and still was able to stretch her right leg out to deflect Thorn’s shot with her right foot.
Had Jackson sat back, Thorn would have had ample open net to score. It was the type of play that turns a WAC Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year into one who could win the postseason award.
Jackson’s ability to read and react makes her relish a one-on-one (“1v1”) situation that is a grave for many goalkeepers.
“We worked on 1v1 the week prior, so I got a lot of reps,” Jackson said. “But I’ve always been comfortable and confident in a 1v1. I made myself big in goal and put her to one side. As I saw her get ready to take the shot, I got up big and reacted and got my foot to it.
“When I do have them coming at me, there’s no fear. I’ve got this 100%.”
A diving save on a Wise shot and a defender’s end-line header on Lopes junior forward Maddie Brady’s redirected touch shot nearly stretched the lead before Sampson did so in the 64th minute.
Loera sent a long ball from midfield that appeared headed out of bounds, but the only GCU player capable of chasing it down was there. Lopes junior forward Hannah Smith, the team’s fastest player, caught up to it at the end line and sent a perfect crossing pass through box traffic to Sampson on the opposite side.
“I wanted to see the wingers getting the ball more, being isolated one-on-one more and looking to cross,” Cissell said. “I told them at halftime that when we’re playing with three forwards, what I really want to see is a winger on the weak side be on that back post for a tap-in. I was even saying that I’d love to see a goal go from a winger to a winger.”
“Ever since I started playing up top, I felt it coming,” Sampson said. “It’s so awesome. I’ve had opportunities as an outside back, but nothing beats scoring. It feels so good. I love it. I’m proud of the team. I wouldn’t have got a goal if we weren’t playing as a team.
“The girls are so fun. We’re all so competitive. Even in training sessions, we have this fire that nobody wants to lose. It reflects how we play in games. I see a lot of grit and grind from everyone, and I really respect that.”
GCU plays its home finale against Tarleton State at 1 p.m. Sunday before ending the regular season with five consecutive road games. Thirteen Lopes will be honored pregame for Senior Day.
“I’m excited to have my Senior Day with this group of girls,” Jackson said. “It’s bittersweet because I get to play my last home game. It’s going to be such an honor.
“Every time we talk about it, I get kind of choked up. The season on GCU’s campus is coming to an end with the Havocs’ support and the whole vibe at GCU. Playing my last game on this pitch where I’ve thrived and grown as a player and a person is bittersweet.”
Press Release courtesy of Grand Canyon University Athletics – Paul Coro
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