Thursday, August 20
Phoenix, AZ
10:00pm (EST)
University at Buffalo
at
Grand Canyon
Photo by: Paul Hokanson/UB Athletics
Bulls Head West for Two-Game Swing in Arizona
8/19/2026 9:25:00 AM | Women's Soccer
BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo women's soccer team heads west for a pair of games in Arizona this week. The Bulls will face off against Grand Canyon on Thursday at 10 pm (EST) before taking on Arizona State on Sunday at 1pm (EST).
Thursday's game can be viewed on Mountain West Plus while Sunday's contest will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Ryan Sykora (play-by-play) and Adrian Pelayo (color) announcing.
It is the first-ever meeting between the Bulls and both Grand Canyon and Arizona State. The Bulls are 2-1-1 all-time against opponents from the Mountain West Conference, with their most recent victory coming over Colorado College at Broadview Stadium a year ago. UB is 0-5-0 all-time against current members of the Big 12.
Buffalo picked up a second straight win to open the season with a 2-0 victory at Mercyhurst on Sunday afternoon. The Bulls were led by a pair of freshmen as Alexis Kochan and Emma Patti both recorded their first career goals in the win. Buffalo dominated the stat sheet as they outshot Mercyhurst 20-3 on the night, including an 11-2 advantage in shots on goal, while also earning maintaining a 6-1 edge in corner kick opportunities. Senior Lexie Thompson notched her second straight shutout with two saves on the day. On Tuesday, senior Eva Blatz was named Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Week while Thompson took home Goalkeeper of the Week honors.
Grand Canyon defeated Arizona 2-0 in their season opener on August 12. The Lopes were picked to finish fourth in the Mountain West preseason coaches' poll after finishing the 2025 season with an 8-8-2 overall record and 3-5-2 in league play. GCU senior goalkeeper Emma Knack, junior forward Ellie Johannes and junior forward Amanda Adams were named to the preseason Mountain West Women's Soccer Watch List. Johannes is the leading returning goal and point scorer as she notched three goals and three assists last season while Adams looks to make an immediate impact after transferring from Houston, where she appeared in 18 matches, recording a goal and two assists, a year ago. Knack returns between the pipes for the Lopes after compiling an 8-8-2 overall record with a 1.42 goals against average and .832 save percentage in 18 starts. She ranked sixth nationally with 119 saves and a 6.61 saves per match average.
Arizona State defeated New Mexico State 3-1 on August 12, extending their unbeaten streak in season openers to 14 contests. The Sun Devils were picked ninth in the Big 12 preseason coaches poll after finishing the 2025 season with a 10-5-4 overall record and a 3-5-3 mark in league play. They added 15 newcomers and return just five starters, from a season ago, led by junior forward Sierra Bergen who scored five goals while adding two assists last season as well as senior Lucy Fazackerley and graduate student Peyton Marcisz who notched three goals each. Arizona State will have a new face in goal for the first time since 2023. Sophomore Kennedy Zorn got the start and the win against the Lobos while sophomore Izzy Duink and freshman Linden Alkema will look to split time between the pipes.
Up next, Buffalo will return to the friendly confines of Broadview Stadium to host Binghamton on Sunday, August 30 at 1pm.
For all the latest on UB Women's Soccer Team, follow the team on Twitter/X and Instagram at @UBuffaloWSOC and like the UB Women's Soccer Facebook page.
Click here for information on the Bulls Championship Fund and how you can help UB Athletics.
Thursday's game can be viewed on Mountain West Plus while Sunday's contest will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Ryan Sykora (play-by-play) and Adrian Pelayo (color) announcing.
It is the first-ever meeting between the Bulls and both Grand Canyon and Arizona State. The Bulls are 2-1-1 all-time against opponents from the Mountain West Conference, with their most recent victory coming over Colorado College at Broadview Stadium a year ago. UB is 0-5-0 all-time against current members of the Big 12.
Buffalo picked up a second straight win to open the season with a 2-0 victory at Mercyhurst on Sunday afternoon. The Bulls were led by a pair of freshmen as Alexis Kochan and Emma Patti both recorded their first career goals in the win. Buffalo dominated the stat sheet as they outshot Mercyhurst 20-3 on the night, including an 11-2 advantage in shots on goal, while also earning maintaining a 6-1 edge in corner kick opportunities. Senior Lexie Thompson notched her second straight shutout with two saves on the day. On Tuesday, senior Eva Blatz was named Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Week while Thompson took home Goalkeeper of the Week honors.
Grand Canyon defeated Arizona 2-0 in their season opener on August 12. The Lopes were picked to finish fourth in the Mountain West preseason coaches' poll after finishing the 2025 season with an 8-8-2 overall record and 3-5-2 in league play. GCU senior goalkeeper Emma Knack, junior forward Ellie Johannes and junior forward Amanda Adams were named to the preseason Mountain West Women's Soccer Watch List. Johannes is the leading returning goal and point scorer as she notched three goals and three assists last season while Adams looks to make an immediate impact after transferring from Houston, where she appeared in 18 matches, recording a goal and two assists, a year ago. Knack returns between the pipes for the Lopes after compiling an 8-8-2 overall record with a 1.42 goals against average and .832 save percentage in 18 starts. She ranked sixth nationally with 119 saves and a 6.61 saves per match average.
Arizona State defeated New Mexico State 3-1 on August 12, extending their unbeaten streak in season openers to 14 contests. The Sun Devils were picked ninth in the Big 12 preseason coaches poll after finishing the 2025 season with a 10-5-4 overall record and a 3-5-3 mark in league play. They added 15 newcomers and return just five starters, from a season ago, led by junior forward Sierra Bergen who scored five goals while adding two assists last season as well as senior Lucy Fazackerley and graduate student Peyton Marcisz who notched three goals each. Arizona State will have a new face in goal for the first time since 2023. Sophomore Kennedy Zorn got the start and the win against the Lobos while sophomore Izzy Duink and freshman Linden Alkema will look to split time between the pipes.
Up next, Buffalo will return to the friendly confines of Broadview Stadium to host Binghamton on Sunday, August 30 at 1pm.
For all the latest on UB Women's Soccer Team, follow the team on Twitter/X and Instagram at @UBuffaloWSOC and like the UB Women's Soccer Facebook page.
Click here for information on the Bulls Championship Fund and how you can help UB Athletics.
Players Mentioned
D/M
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's SoccerThursday, August 06
Thursday, August 06
Thursday, August 06
Thursday, August 06
