Benedetti Scores Twice in Win over CSU
Milla Benedetti scored a pair of goals to lift the Grand Canyon University women's soccer team (4-9-1, 3-3-0) to a 3-2 double overtime win over Chicago State (1-13-1, 1-5-1) Sunday at Kroc Stadium in Chicago. The freshman scored in the 66th minute and converted on a penalty kick opportunity in the second overtime to give the Antelopes their third Western Athletic Conference (WAC) victory.
"It was another good win for us," said head coach Stevie Gill. "We are missing a number of key players in the lineup so it was great to get a win on the road. We have won three of the last four games on the road and are very much looking forward to our home games this weekend.
"Milla Benedetti had an excellent game up front and Taylor Layton was outstanding in the midfield," said Gill. "We hit the bar six times and the post four times, it was just one of those games where the ball would not go in the back of the net."
Grand Canyon dominated the host Cougars in the shots department, firing a season-high 50 shots to CSU's three, with a season-best 19 of those shots being on goal. Canyon's 50 shots is the highest single-game tally by a WAC team this season.
After Chicago State carried a 1-0 lead into intermission, forward Cassie Beckwith knotted the game at 1-1 in the 64th minute with her first goal of the season. Ashly Hilfer was credited with the assist on the goal–her second of the season.
Just over a minute later the Cougars regained the lead on a goal from Sara Marcotte to put Chicago State on top 2-1. Just 54 seconds later, Benedetti struck with her first goal of the day to even the score at 2-2. It was her second goal of the season.
The game remained tied at 2-2 through the duration of regulation and its first 10-minute overtime session. Benedetti then capitalized on a penalty kick opportunity in the 106th minute to give GCU the 3-2 victory.
Taylor Layton, Benedetti and Beckwith all put four shots on goal in Sunday's matinee, while freshmen Madison Reynolds and Brylee Hawkins each put a pair on target.
Blakely Fraasch, the reigning WAC Defensive Player of the Week, picked up her third win of the season in goal.
The Lopes will return to Phoenix for a pair of conference games next weekend against New Mexico State (Friday) and UTPA (Sunday) at GCU Soccer Field. Canyon will honor its five seniors prior to Friday's kickoff, which is slated for 7 p.m. Fans can find more information on the women's soccer season at www.gculopes.com.
GCU 3, Chicago State 2
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