Grand Canyon University Women's Rugby closed out the regular season with four back-to-back victories over University of Arizona, University of California Los Angeles, University of California San Diego, and University of California Santa Barbara. The Lopes dominated the scoreboard in the consecutive wins and secured a second-place ranking for the league playoffs set to take place April 9 and 10. The recent success is worth recognition, but it is ultimately the product of years of hard work.

Jan. 29: GCU 74, U of A 0

The Lopes entered the game against U of A focused and ready to compete.

"U of A has been really strong the past couple of years," said Lopes' Head Coach Lindsey Mahoney. "So, we were not sure what we were going to be up against. We knew that we had to take this game very seriously and come prepared."

GCU's diligent mindset paid off, and the team ran away with a piercing 74-0 victory over the Wildcats.

"We have been able to successfully implement the structures that we want to see on the field," said Mahoney. "Now we are just critiquing small things and building onto pieces of the game we have not been able to before. We are starting to see a higher-level IQ on the field."

This win was extra rewarding because it showed the progress the squad has made.

"It is satisfying to see these results because just one year ago we were not in the position to have a win like this," said Mahoney. "The everyday grind does pay off, and this game was one of the first instances we really got to see that."

Feb. 5: GCU 17, UCLA 5

Just one week after the Lopes' big win, the team had to rein in the celebration to take on a more evenly matched UCLA.

"This game gave us the chance to show that we are able to respond under pressure," said Mahoney. "Even when we got punched in the face, we played the right defense, did what was needed to turn over the ball, and then scored once we got it."

While the Bruins' single try tarnished the Lopes' chance of another shutout, GCU's 17 total points still left them on top when time ran out.

Feb. 13: GCU 51, UCSD 7

The Lopes' approached UCSD with a slightly altered game plan – or starting lineup, that is.

"We have a lot of depth in the program," said Mahoney. "We were able to start some new girls and spread out the minutes more."

Despite the switch up, the Lopes did not miss a beat and earned a steep win over the Tritons.

"I was really impressed to see the girls fighting for playing time," said Mahoney. "They all really stepped up in those opportunities, and I got to see them perform just as well as those that normally start."

Feb. 26: GCU 94, UCSB 0

"We wanted to use this last game before playoffs to showcase what we have learned throughout the season," said Mahoney. "We worked to perfect some of the things we have been focusing on the past few practices."

The skewed scoreboard highlighted the Lopes' skills, but Mahoney noted additional factors behind the teams' accomplishments.

"The scoreboard did go up pretty quickly," said Mahoney. "However, the culture is really the reason we have been succeeding. At the end of the day, we are driven by our love for each other and love for the game."

With playoffs on the horizon, GCU does not intend to shy away at the challenges ahead of them.

"We are ready to take things to the next level," said Mahoney. "We want to see how teams from the other regions might push us. We are ready to respond to it."

Want to stay up to date on GCU Women's Rugby? Check out the team Twitter page here!