A little of this. A little of that. A lot of new faces.
 
And a season-opening win.
 
The Grand Canyon University Women's Hockey team began the 2024-25 season by spoiling the debut of the University of Arizona Women's Hockey program with a defensive-minded 2-1 victory Thursday in Tucson. The Wildcats exacted revenge two nights later with a 5-4 victory in GCU's home opener at AZ Ice Arcadia in Phoenix.

Thursday: GCU 2, Arizona 1

With a new head coach (Reid Miller, who's been on the men's side of the Lopes' Hockey program the past two years), and 12 newcomers to the 27-player roster (the largest ever for GCU Women's Hockey), and an extremely late 9:30PM puck drop, a slow start wasn't unexpected. The fact that GCU's opponents were donning Wildcats' women's hockey uniforms for the first time ever helped buy the Lopes time in the season opener. The first two periods were just that on both sides: buying time. 12 penalties, 44 shots on goal, and a scoreless tie after 40 minutes of play. Finally, the offenses started clicking in the game's final minutes.
 
Or at least one 66-second stretch.
 
With just over six minute left and in the midst of a Lopes' power play, GCU returner Natalya Hooey pushed the puck to the boards just to the side of the Arizona net. As two Wildcats' defenders converged, the three collided, allowing the puck to bounce straight to Lopes' freshman Sophie Armit, who flipped it into the net to finally end the scoreless tie. The lead lasted all of 25 seconds as the Wildcats took control of the ensuing faceoff, raced to the GCU zone and tied the game on a Savannah Allen shot from just inside the blue line. That celebration was nearly as short-lived as 41 seconds later, the Wildcats' attempt to clear the puck from in front of their net deflected to the stick of another Lopes' freshman, Elizabeth Ramsey, who sent it past the shoulder of UA goalie Olivia Sorlie for a 2-1 Lopes edge, and the defense took over for the remaining five minutes to give the Lopes the win. The Wildcats fired 44 shots at Lopes' senior netminder Hannah Schneidmiller but saw 43 go by the wayside, while Sorlie had 29 saves in a losing effort.

Saturday: Arizona 5, GCU 4
 
This time, despite more offensive output, the Lopes' slow start proved their downfall. After managing just 13 shots on goal in the first two periods combined in Tucson, GCU kept a much more balanced offensive attack in the same stretch Saturday. However, by the time Lopes' sophomore Natalie Saldi got the Lopes on the scoreboard (on an Armit assist) with 11 minutes left in the second period, the Lopes were already down three. The difference was the improved power-play by the Wildcats, which produced both first-period goals as well as their two 3^rd-period scores. Still, another Lopes' 3^rd-period rally put the 'Cats on their heels, with Saldi and fellow returner Jenna Sorenson both scoring early in the period to bring the Lopes back within a goal. After the Wildcats answered back with their final score, the Lopes finally cleared the goalie and produced a Reese Gingrich goal with a half-minute left before the rally fell short. Schneidmiller had 29 saves in the loss.
 
GCU's second home-and-home series against an intrastate rival will ratchet up the intensity as the Lopes make their first trip across town to Tempe to face Arizona State University (who finished 10^th in the final ACHA Poll last season) Friday night, October 4 at 7:30PM. The two teams will then head to AZ Ice Arcadia to finish the two-game set Saturday afternoon - with puck drop scheduled for 5:30PM.