Exciting Kickoff: Lopes Host Home Opener in Mountain West Basketball Showdown!

GCU is set to face San Diego State on Thursday and Air Force on Sunday at GCU Stadium.

Coach Chris Cissell recently celebrated his 65th win at GCU after a victory over Northern Arizona. With just one more win, he’ll reach 450 career wins in college soccer for both men’s and women’s teams.

Sophomore forward Ellie Johannes shined last week, earning the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week award for her game-winning goal against NAU. She’s on a scoring streak, netting goals in consecutive matches. Freshman Caprice Chiuchiolo also celebrated her first collegiate goal during a game against Arizona.

Senior Hannah Smith and junior Madison Hamm are tied for the most assists on the team, each with two. Interestingly, Smith’s assists have supported all of Johannes’s goals so far, while Hamm has helped secure two game-winning goals. This season, GCU struggles when conceding goals, holding an 0-3 record in such games.

GCU won its last match against Northern Arizona with a solid defensive performance, allowing no goals and securing five shutouts this season. The Lopes notoriously had a strong presence defensively, as displayed with 12 saves in their matches against both Northern Arizona and Oregon, leading the Mountain West in that statistic.

The Lopes have enjoyed success in conference play, with wins in their opening matches in the previous two seasons. Junior goalkeeper Emma Knack has shown impressive skills, achieving five shutouts and racking up two matches with 11 saves each.

As GCU transitions into the Mountain West Conference this fall, they become the 13th team in a league aiming for a competitive season. Each team will play ten conference matches over six weeks. The six best teams will head to the Mountain West Tournament, with the winner earning a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

In their upcoming matches, GCU will face San Diego State for the first time. Recently, the Aztecs defeated Nevada 4-0, though that match doesn’t contribute to their conference record. San Diego State also boasts a win over Pepperdine, another strong contender.

GCU has previously faced Air Force, winning their last meeting 2-0 during a championship in Hawaii, where Bella Piete and Hannah Smith made significant contributions.

Looking ahead, GCU will embark on its first Mountain West road trip next week, facing Nevada and San Jose State. Both teams struggle this season, with Nevada at 1-6-1 and San Jose State at 1-7.

With the growing competitiveness of the Mountain West, every game counts, and GCU is eager to continue making strides this season.



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