Penalty kicks give. Penalty kicks take away.
 
Using a Caitlyn Winter penalty kick at the end of regulation to send the title match to extra-time penalty kicks, the Grand Canyon University Women's Club Soccer Team fell just short of its second consecutive Aztec Cup crown, losing to Arizona State University Gold in the extra penalty kick session, 3-1, to finish second at the tournament. It's the third time in the last four years that the Lopes have not only found themselves in the event's championship match but have gone to penalty kicks to decide the champions.
 
Pool Play:           Saturday: GCU 0, USC 0 (tie); GCU 2, Arizona 1
                            Sunday: GCU 4, Cal-State San Marcos 0

Lopes' Head Coach Vanessa Leyva saw exactly what she wanted from her team: improving with each match. The Lopes battled the University of Southern California to a scoreless tie in their opening pool-play match – despite scoring a goal in the 60^th minute. A ball in the air in the crease right in front of the Trojans' goal saw GCU freshman Mallory Villars and the USC goalkeeper meet at the same airborne point. Villars headed the ball into the net, but it was waved off and called a GCU foul, keeping the scoreless tie intact, and it stayed that way through the remaining 30 minutes.

The Lopes used that disappointment as momentum for their Saturday night clash with archrival University of Arizona, since when they had the chance to break a 1-1 tie late in the game, they didn't falter – thanks to Winter's score in the 70^th minute off a UA penalty called just outside the Wildcats' box. Kylie Fuder notched the Lopes' first goal of the tournament in the first half.
 
All that stood between the Lopes and another championship match berth was the Cougars of California State University-San Marcos Sunday morning. After a tight first 45 minutes that saw the Lopes score the lone goal of the first half, Winter set the tone for the second half by scoring within the first minute. From there, the Lopes added insurance goals in the 50^th and 70^th minutes to punch their ticket to the title match.

Championship: Sunday: ASU Gold 2, GCU 2 (ASU 3-1 PK)

That gave the Lopes not only a chance for their third tournament crown in four years, but an opportunity for revenge against their Tempe archrivals for the 1-0 season-opening loss the Sun Devils tagged GCU with at Colter Field last month. Each team had a lead in regulation, with GCU taking a 1-0 lead midway through the first half that was neutralized by the Devils before halftime; then the Devils taking a 2-1 edge in the 60^th minute. ASU was about to celebrate the win in regulation until the final play when an ASU foul allowed Winter to cash in the game-tying penalty kick. With no overtime sessions built into the tournament rules, the teams automatically went to penalty kicks, where ASU cashed in all three of their opportunities to clinch the victory.
 
"I'm very pleased with the ladies' performance," said Leyva. "They played the best that they've played so far this year. The puzzle pieces are finally starting to come together, and at the perfect time, since NIRSA is only a week away."
 
The Lopes (3-2-1 overall, 1-1 WCSA) have just one more tuneup left before heading to the NIRSA Region VI South Regional Tournament next weekend, and it happens this Saturday night, October 19 at Colter Field. GCU's top two teams, Purple and Black, will clash in a 6PM kickoff, and fans are encouraged to come to the field early for Senior Night Festivities. Admission is FREE.