The season finally arrived Friday night for the Grand Canyon women’s soccer team as they kicked the 2015 year at home against in-state rival Northern Arizona University. The atmosphere was electric in front of 2,565 screaming fans that consisted of the first ever “March to Match” by the HAVOCS and fans raising their free scarves in support of GCU soccer. In their first match of the season, the Antelopes delivered a late thriller with a header from Kelsie Roberts to defeat NAU 3-2 for the first time in school history.

“What a fantastic atmosphere and what a fantastic game,” said head coach Stevie Gill. “I have been here since 1996 and that crowd was the best crowd I have seen since the men’s National Championship game. We created a lot of chances throughout the game and the girls continued to battle and in the end Kelsie Roberts was able to bring home the win.”

Every time Northern Arizona took the lead, Grand Canyon fought back to tie the game and eventually take the match. Off a cross from Kathryn Yancone, Roberts was able to place a header on the near post right over the NAU goalkeeper’s head for the thrilling 3-2 win.

“This feels so great after not playing a game in two years,” said Roberts with a big smile on her face. “This win means so much for us because we wanted to deliver a win on our home field for our fans.”

Northern Arizona started the game with a goal in the seventh minute from Chantal Deroos giving NAU the early 1-0 lead. 11 minutes later the Lopes responded off a free kick from Kelsey Smith and in her first game at Grand Canyon, Madison Cox was able to head the ball in the back of the net to tie the game.

The teams went into halftime tied but the Lumberjacks changed the game in their favor in the 66^th minute when Haley Wingender scored to give NAU the 2-1 lead. Once again, the Lopes crawled back late in the game to send it into overtime. When the team needed her the most, senior Cassie Beckwith delivered with a beautiful goal outside the box in the 80^th minute, sending the game into overtime.

This was the first time NAU traveled to face the Lopes at Grand Canyon Soccer Field during the regular season and in the blazing heat, GCU fired off 13 shots in the match with seven on target.

Before the match, the festivities began with the “March to the Match” were hundreds of students walked in unison throughout the campus of Grand Canyon and made their presence known all throughout the game.

Grand Canyon will take the rest of the weekend off from play but we will be back in action on Friday, Aug. 28, at home against Colorado State. 

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