The University of Arizona soccer team opened their regular season with a 1-0 victory over the GCU Antelopes at GCU Stadium in Phoenix.
Nicole Dallin, a graduate student at the UA, could not be silenced, breaking into the season just 30 minutes into the game with a first-half goal assisted by Sarah Rice.
In her third year as a consistent starter for the Wildcats, Dallin has proved crucial for the squad, leading the team in goals for the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
The Arizona offense saw a staggering 15 shots with eight shots on goal. Dallin, a forward, led the team with four shots, two of which were on goal. This was followed by her fellow forward, Brooke Ahern, who had three shots with one on goal, and Marley Chappel, who had two shots both being on goal.
Arizona’s first half was full of offense and defensive consistency, culminating with 10 shots and limiting GCU to just 5. The Arizona defense made it an easy 45 minutes for goalkeeper Olivia Ramey, limiting GCU to one shot on goal.
The second half would commence with a standout performance from freshman goalkeeper Sofia Cortes-Browne, who prevented two shots from the GCU offense in her debut with the Wildcats.
Another debuting Wildcat is freshman Taylor Smith, who found a chance for her first career shot on goal in the first half. Cortes-Browne and Smith were joined by three other freshmen in their debut as Wildcats.
The second half moved forward with a stronger defensive focus, seeing total shots for both sides fall; the Wildcats had five shots and GCU had four. GCU’s Destinee Duran-Wise would receive a yellow card in the 66th minute, followed by a GCU goal that would be taken away because of a foul by GCU’s Maddie Brady.
Arizona clinched their first win of the season with this 1-0 victory over GCU, providing a great starting point for the Wildcats to push forward.
This was the Wildcats’ first win against GCU since 2021; at this matchup in Phoenix, Arizona won 4-1.
Arizona’s next game comes on Aug. 18, with the team having their first home game in Tucson against Pacific University at 11:30 a.m. Arizona’s first Big 12 conference game comes on Sept. 12 at 6 p.m. against the University of Utah at Ute Field in Salt Lake City.
Follow the Daily Wildcat on Instagram and Twitter/X
