The Grand Canyon University women's soccer team (8-9-1, 7-3-0) closed out its 2014 campaign on a five-game winning streak after picking up a 1-0 Western Athletic Conference (WAC) victory over Bakersfield (4-15-1, 3-7-0) Saturday night at the Main Soccer Field in Bakersfield, Calif. The Antelopes won seven of their final eight games and finish tied with Utah Valley for third in the regular season conference standings.

"It is always difficult to play the same team back-to-back and on the road," said head coach Stevie Gill. "Credit to Bakersfield as they came to play tonight and went after us from the first whistle and gave us a great game."

"Given all the injuries on the team this year, I think our players showed great resilience and fought to the end," said Gill. "Winning the last seven of eight games not only shows that we can compete at this level, but win at this level."

With just over two minutes remaining in the first half, it was Milla Benedetti continuing her scoring spree, as the freshman found the back of the net to give the Lopes a 1-0 lead heading into intermission. It was Benedetti's seventh goal of the season—six of those goals came in Canyon's final five games.

Freshman keeper Blakely Fraasch kept the 'Runners off the scoreboard in the opening half, grabbing a pair of saves.

Defense dominated the second half, as neither team was able to find the back of the net. Benedetti's first half goal proved to be the game-winner—her WAC-best fifth game-winning goal of the season. After connecting on five game-winning goals this season, the freshman now sits second all-time in Canyon's record book for game-winning goals in a season.

Cassie Beckwith and Maria Monterroso each put a shot on goal in the first half, while Shannon Costello collected two shots in the contest.

Fraasch, who finished with five saves, recorded her fourth shutout of the season in goal, which is the second-best tally in the league. Her .855 save percentage is the top mark in the conference and her four season shutouts ranks her tied for fourth all-time in school history for shutouts in a season.

The Lopes, who were picked to finish fifth in the WAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, come in tied for third with Utah Valley in league standings. GCU is not eligible for the postseason as Canyon is in its second year of the four-year transitional period.

"We want to wish our seniors all the best and thank them for their hard work and dedication to the women's soccer family at GCU," said Gill.

"Now we take a couple of days off with our families and then jump back into looking for the best and brightest to strengthen the squad for the coming years," concluded Gill.

GCU 1, Bakersfield 0

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