PHOENIX – With first place in the WAC's West Division on the line, NM State put pressure on Grand Canyon all night long, but the Lopes showed off their high-scoring offense and earned a 6-0 victory Saturday night at GCU Stadium.
SCORING SUMMARY
6' | Caught out of position on defense, NM State fell behind in the opening minutes of the game. Gianna Gourley got behind the Aggies' back line and took a pass from just inside the box from Marleen Schimmer, Racing toward the goal unobstructed, Gourley found herself one-on-one with NM State netminder
Makenna Gottschalk and fired a shot into the far right portion of the Aggies' goal to put the home team ahead 1-0.
23' | The Lopes' first set piece of the night yielded another goal for the hosts. Schimmer struck a corner kick to the mouth of the Aggies' net and Hannah Edwards headed a ball to the upper-left corner of the goal past Gottschalk, putting NM State at a 2-0 disadvantage.
51' | A quick-strike run by the Lopes made it a three-goal game. Dani Babb sent a pass upfield to Schimmer who once again found herself past NM State's back line. Instead of challenging Gottschalk one-on-one, Schimmer send a cross to Gourley who netted her second score of the night by tapping it into a wide-open net.
64' | Continuing to pour it on, the Lopes scored their fourth of the night with a little over 25 minutes to go. In the far corner of NM State territory, Gourley and Lindsey Prokop generated assists by feeding Brenna Alderson who won a one-on-one battle with Gottschalk by sending a shot past the Aggies' goalkeeper.
69' | Another corner kick yielded a fifth GCU goal. Alderson booted a ball to the front of the Aggies' net and Destinee Duran headed it in.
82' | Following the ninth NM State foul of the match, GCU converted a free kick opportunity into its sixth goal of the night. Perri Belzer set up shop just outside right side of the Aggies' box and pushed a centering ball toward a group of players set up in front of NM State's goal. Haley Bostard headed a bouncing shot past
Mia Montano who had come on in relief of Gottschalk just over one minute prior.
KEY PERFORMERS/STATISTICS OF NOTE
• NM State suffered its second WAC setback of the season. Both of the Aggies' WAC losses have been shutouts.
• Though the Aggies were outshot by a 20-14 margin, the visitors challenged GCU's Jordan Ferguson all night. The Lopes' netminder stopped all eight shots she faced with
Xitlaly Hernandez coming up with a game-high three shots on goal.
Loma McNeese finished with a game-high four shots, two of which were on frame.
• Gottschalk finished the night with five saves in 80:22. Montano played the final 9:38 and did not record a save.
• NM State did not attempt a corner kick while the Lopes turned two of their eight set pieces into goals.
COMING UP NEXT
• In the midst of a three-match stretch of WAC road matches, NM State's next fixture comes in California when the Aggies take on California Baptist Friday afternoon at 2:00 p.m.
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