TUCSON - The Arizona soccer team opened its home slate on Thursday with a 1-1 draw against Grand Canyon.
The Cats came out swinging with four shots in the first seven minutes by four different athletes. Nicole Dallin was able to find the back of the net off a rebound of a shot by Cameron Valladares. The goal was the second of the season for Dallin and the eighth of her career.
By the 18th minute Arizona was up to seven shots by seven players. Four of those goals forced Grand Canyon keeper DeAira Jackson to make a save. At halftime, nine Wildcats were responsible for all 12 shots.
The Lopes took their first shot of the game in the 50th minute and quickly upped their shot count to four by the 66th minute. They were able to equalize the score at 1-1 when Gianna Gourley broke away from the defense to send a shot past
Hope Hisey.
"Hope is the secret to Hope's penalty kicks," Head Coach
Becca Moros said. "She's very long, she gets out big and she reads people really well. At that point, I think she's just got huge stretch and she's very quick. She's powerful off the first steps and she covers a big part of the goal which is the biggest thing. If you put it where she can get it, she's going to make a really good shot at it."
The teams traded shots throughout the second half, but in the 90th minute the Cats committed a foul in the penalty area.
Hope Hisey made her second penalty kick save of the season to keep the match score at 1-1.
Arizona returns to action Sunday, Aug. 27 at Northern Arizona in a 1 p.m. matchup.
