Trailblazers women soccer took on Grand Canyon Thursday night and fell 4-1 despite a strong first half performance. 

WHAT HEAD COACH MOLLY ROUSE SAID: "Tonight was a great opportunity for our team to play against a high quality opponent. In the first half, we made the game very difficult for GCU to build out and limited chances against. We also were able to see several special individual moments which kept the game level. It was exciting to see exceptional moments of exploiting spaces while being able to control the tempo for stretches of time. Unfortunately, in the end, GCU was better able to capitalize on solid attacking opportunities and utilized the momentum they built during the second half. We are proud of the effort the Trailblazers demonstrated and the fight they displayed until the final whistle. We are looking forward to our final opportunity against NMSU on Saturday to showcase our growth and development throughout the season. Knowing our group, we can expect they will show up ready to compete once again!"

HOW IT HAPPENED: Dixie State jumped on the Lopes early as the first goal of the game happened at that 2:37 mark. The Trailblazers drew a corner kick and then worked the short ball to Emily Garbett just outside the 18. Garbett dished it to Whitley Griffiths who then sent it in towards the goal. Kalea Woodyatt found it and with a couple controlled touches in the six sent it in between the side bar and GCU's keeper. 

Grand Canyon picked up the intensity firing off a shot on goal in the 30th minute that Adelle Brown punched out and away. Just a minute later the Lopes were on the attack and the Trailblazer defense was on lock with Noela Nawahine heading the ball to clear it from crossing the goal line. Kearney Hoggan drew a yellow card in the 32nd minute and GCU fired off a shot that bounced off the crossbar. 

GCU was able to get a goal in the 39th minute to tie the game up as the first half concluded. 

Just a minute after the second half kicked off, the Lopes were able to get a goal to take a 2-1 lead. Later in the 72nd minute, GCU got a third goal taking a 3-1 lead. 

In the 78th minute DSU found themselves in a strong offensive position with Woodyatt firing off a shot that bounced off the crossbar. Griffiths and Jill Bennett tried to capitalize on the ricochet but the Lopes cleared it and took it down for their fourth goal of the game. 

Once GCU captured that momentum, Dixie State couldn't take it back and the game clock hit 90 for a final score of 4-1. 

STAT BREAKDOWN:  Dixie State was led by Brynlee Roberts who had three shots.  Savannah Stauffer and Woodyatt were right behind with two shots each. Woodyatt was the lone scorer for DSU.

DSU ended the game with nine shots and four on frame with one goal and two assists. 

Brown started in the net for Dixie and played the full 90 minutes. She recorded eight saves. 

Grand Canyon ended the game with 26 shots, 12 on frame, four goals and seven assist. 

The Lopes ended the game with just three saves. 

NOTES TO KNOW: Dixie State is now 6-12-1 overall on the season and 2-6-1 in WAC action. 

Woodyatt now leads the Trailblazers in goals scored with five on the season. 

Brown now has 108 saves in her career which puts her at No. 4 in the school record books. 

Dixie State has now scored nine goals in the first 10 minutes of a half and six goals in the first 10 minutes of the game.  DSU has 19 total goals on the season. 

UP NEXT: The Trailblazers will finish the season at New Mexico State Saturday, October 30th.