Thorn strikes twice late at GCU

Friday, October 14

Phoenix

9 p.m. CT (7 p.m. PT)

Abilene Christian

4-6-3, 0-4-2

Grand Canyon

6-5-2, 2-3-1

Abilene Christian

Grand Canyon

10/14/2022 11:06:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

PHOENIX – Sophomore Chayse Thorn scored a pair of goals less than 90 seconds at the end of the match, but the ACU soccer team dropped a 4-2 decision at a tough environment to play in at Grand Canyon on Friday night. The Wildcats (4-6-3, 0-4-2 WAC) trailed 4-0 late when Thorn took over for the final minutes, but Grand Canyon (6-5-2, 2-3-1 WAC) walks away with the victory in the inaugural meeting between the schools.

The Goals
- 1' | Grand Canyon's Gianna Gourley scored less than two minutes in to give GCU a lead they would not surrender.
- 8' | GCU was at it again with Gourley, scoring her second of the night to put the Lopes up 2-0.
- 20' | The home team took a 3-0 lead into the locker room after Brenna Alderson scored less than halfway through the first 45.
- 46' | Similarly to the first half, the Lopes did not waste time in the second stanza as well, wtih Bekah Valdez putting one home to go up 4-0.
- 87' | It was staring at a 4-0 final score, until Thorn took over. A set piece from just outside the ACU box was drilled down the field, and just at the top of the Lopes' box was Thorn and others. After a deflection and the GCU keeper coming out to defend, Thorn was able to turn and drill one with her left foot through for the goal.
- 88' | Less than 90 seconds later, Thorn got a great ball down the near left sideline, and after getting all the way down the left side of the box, drilled one from left to right past the keeper for another score.

The Numbers
- Grand Canyon led 20-10 in shots, however just 8-6 in shots on goal.
- Lily Foster tallied four saves in net in 90 minutes of action.
- Thorn's goals are the first time finding the back fo the net since Sept. 9 against Prairie View A&M.
- Thorn led the way with three shot attempts, while McCarly Holloman and Natalie Jones each totaled a pair of shots.

Up Next
- The Wildcats road trip culminates out in Riverside, Calif. against California Baptist on Sunday, Oct. 16 at 3 p.m. CT. The game will air on ESPN+.

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