The Grand Canyon University women's soccer team (0-2-1) battled to a 1-1 tie with Valparaiso (0-1-2) in the Antelopes home opener Friday at GCU Soccer Field. Grand Canyon will be off until next Friday when they host South Dakota.

"Another very good performance by the girls," said head coach Stevie Gill. "We fought exceptionally hard this evening. It was a tough battle right to the final whistle."

Freshman keeper Blakely Fraasch was sharp in the first 45 minutes of action, making four saves in her third career start in goal.

The Lopes held the upper hand in the shots category in the first half, as they outshot the Crusaders 6-5, with Maria Monterroso leading the offensive attack with three shots. Monterroso and Brylee Hawkins each put one shot on goal through the first half of play.

The Crusaders opened the scoring in the second half, scoring in the 62^nd minute on a goal off the foot of Vanesa Abad to give Valpo the lead, 1-0.

GCU answered in the 73^rd minute, when Monterroso netted a penalty kick to even the score at one apiece. Monterroso is a perfect 3-for-3 on penalty kicks on the young season.

Neither team was able to muster any offense the rest of the way as the score would remain the same through the duration of regulation and a pair of 10 minute overtime periods.

Fraasch played strong again in the second half, tallying five saves for a total of nine on the night. Monterroso and Patricia Pape recorded GCU's shots on goal in the second half. Monterroso fired four shots on the night, giving her a season total of nine.

"Now we can focus our efforts to the game next Friday and try to get some of the girls back to full-fitness," added Gill. "We need to be more attack-minded in the final third and pull the trigger to test the goalkeepers. We will work on it this week and come out swinging against South Dakota."

The Lopes will be in action a week from tonight, when they host South Dakota in a non-conference affair at GCU Soccer Field. Fans can find more information on the 2014 women's soccer season by visiting www.gculopes.com.

GCU 1, Valparaiso 1

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