Deja CU… uh, vu.
 
Rebounding from a heartbreaking overtime loss to top-seeded University of Colorado on the first night of the 2026 Western Women's Collegiate Hockey League Playoffs, the Grand Canyon University Women's Hockey team returned the favor two days later, stunning the Buffaloes, 2-1, on a goal in the final minute of overtime Sunday in Boulder, Colorado. It's the second straight season that the underdog Lopes have knocked off the #1 seed Buffs in the championship round, and it punches the Lopes' tickets for the American Collegiate Hockey Association Division 1 National Tournament for the second year in a row.

Friday: #1 Colorado 3, #4 GCU 2 (F/OT)

To hear the television commentators tell it, despite the seeds, the final score was an upset. Unfortunately, it was also a carbon copy of last year's opening-round loss for the Lopes in Gilbert. The Lopes' offense struggled early to get opportunities, but despite firing just five 1^st-period shots at CU goalie Shira Wein, they still trudged into the locker room at the 1^st intermission tied at 1-1 on Abigail Brigg's 17^th goal of the season with 3:35 left in the opening period. The scoring chances didn't improve much over the ensuing two periods, which is why the Buffaloes made a 2-1 lead (on a Brianna Arens goal midway through the 2^nd period) stand up – all the way until the final moments of regulation. A CU penalty with 1:57 left in regulation gave GCU a glimmer of hope, and the Lopes took advantage 24 seconds later when Brigg and Alyssa Vollmin set up Bridget Graybill for the tying goal and overtime. The goal energized the Lopes in the extra session to the tune of seven shots on goal in just four minutes, but the Buffs' 3^rd and final shot of the frame was the difference as Aleksa Caton found room around Lopes' netminder Annika Olson to slap through the sudden-death gamewinner.

"We came out flat Friday night and weren't the aggressors," said Lopes" Head Coach Reid Miller. "As a group, we felt like we let an opportunity slip away, and that didn't sit well with us. We made it a point to respond and ensure we'd be at the top of our game the next time we hit the ice."

Saturday: #4 GCU 7, #2 Montana State 1
 
That meant the Lopes needed a win Saturday just to have a chance to reach Sunday's final, as well as a little help in goal differential, but were facing a Montana State University team that had allowed just three Lopes' goal in the split of the teams' two-game regular season series. No matter. The Diana Prince Lopes of Friday became the Wonder Woman Lopes of Saturday, exploding for 23 shots on goal in the 1^st period alone – more than the three regulation periods combined in Friday's loss. While the 23 shots didn't bring a Lopes' rout right away - Jennae Szucs' two goals were all the Lopes had to show after the first 20 minutes – they shellshocked the Bobcats in a way MSU never recovered from. By the time the teams took the ice for the 3^rd period, Haley Gray had added another score for GCU, and battered MSU goalie Emma Carlson had seen 47 shots head her way. There were plenty more where that came from, with Szucs achieving her first career playoff "hat trick", followed by goals from Kelsey Bonello, Jenna Sorenson and Vollmin before Carlson and Company headed for Montana. GCU outshot Montana State by a whopping tally of 64-19, Szucs added an assist to her three-goal night, and Vollmin and Aaliyah Finch had a pair of assists apiece.

Sunday: #4 GCU 2, #1 Colorado 1 (F/OT)

That left the two teams who just "couldn't get enough of each other" Friday night standing across from one another during Sunday's championship. It resembled an offensive slugfest everywhere on the ice EXCEPT on the scoreboard. The Lopes and Buffs combined for 78 shots on goal, yet the afternoon belonged to GCU's Olson and CU's Wein, who each "flinched" only once during the first three periods. Szucs and Bonello helped Courtney Briggs get the Lopes on the board first with four minutes left in the 1^st period, then CU scoring leader Mia Fiscelli evened things up two minutes into the 2^nd period, and… that was it. 23 shots on goal combined in the 3^rd period never reached their desired targets – thanks to the two goalies, who sent the two tired teams to another extra period to decide who'd hoist the trophy. For the second time in 36 hours, the teams headed to the final minute of OT still knotted up, but this time, the spoiler was wearing purple – namely Ava Johnson, whose 8^th goal of the season was her biggest, finding the back of the net with 37 seconds left to cause a GCU celebration. Olson could soak up the glory, since she saved 44 of 45 CU shots Sunday and registered 91 saves on the weekend while playing all 189 minutes. Szucs led the offensive charge with three goals and two assists, while Vollmin tallied up four assists."

"There's nothing relaxing about going to overtime twice in one weekend - especially finishing the tournament in double overtime," said Miller. "At no point did I doubt this team, though. We had a real sense of confidence and focus heading into those extra periods, and the group stayed composed when it mattered most."

The next event for the Lopes (20-11 overall, 9-5 WWCHL) besides practice? The gathering in a single room tonight (Tuesday) to await the ACHA's online announcement of seedings and opponents for the national tournament. The 12-team tournament will begin Monday, March 16 in St. Louis, Missouri, with the championship game slated for Friday, March 20.