Long Beach State Battles Grand Canyon To 1-1 Draw

Sunday, September 6

Phoenix, Ariz.

7 p.m.

Long Beach State University

5-0-2, 0-0-0

Grand Canyon

3-1-2, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Long Beach St.	1	0	1
Grand Canyon	0	1	1

9/6/2026 9:34:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Cherrie Cox scores her seventh goal of the season and 30th of her career as the Beach remain unbeaten at 5-0-2

By: Chelsea Pfohl, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

PHOENIX, Ariz. -- Long Beach State remained unbeaten through the first seven matches of the 2026 season, battling Grand Canyon to a 1-1 draw Sunday night at GCU Stadium.

Cherrie Cox scored her team-leading seventh goal of the season in the seventh minute, while Ameera White added her seventh assist. Grand Canyon found the equalizer in the 72nd minute, and the Beach responded with a late offensive push but were unable to find the game-winner.

The draw moved Long Beach State to 5-0-2 overall and 2-0-1 on the road as the Beach continued the best unbeaten start in program history. Long Beach State has scored 14 goals while allowing just two through 630 minutes this season.

The Beach struck early for the second consecutive match.

White set up Cox with Cox converting to give Long Beach State a 1-0 advantage. The goal was Cox's seventh of the season and came just days after she assisted on White's opening goal in the Beach's 2-1 victory over Portland.

The goal also marked a significant career milestone for Cox. The senior reached 30 career goals in her 55th appearance for Long Beach State, becoming the fourth player in program history to reach the 30-goal mark.

Cox continued to create chances after the opening goal. She had another attempt blocked in the 11th minute before putting a shot on frame in the 26th, forcing a save from Grand Canyon goalkeeper Emma Knack.

Grand Canyon generated sustained pressure throughout the opening half, finishing with 12 shots and five corner kicks compared to four shots and one corner for the Beach. The Lopes put four attempts on goal, but Aurora Schuck stopped all four.

Schuck denied Ellie Johannes in the 13th minute and Sabrina Guzman in the 20th before making two more saves late in the half against Caprice Chiuchiolo and Samantha Amato.

Despite the pressure, Long Beach State carried their 1-0 advantage into halftime.

The Beach responded with more attacking pressure after the break. White forced a save from Knack in the 51st minute, while Radisson Banks had an attempt blocked in the 60th.

Schuck continued to hold off the Lopes at the other end, making saves in the 49th and 54th minutes to preserve the one-goal advantage.

Grand Canyon eventually found the equalizer at 71:17. Guzman set up Mai-Helen Nguyen Todnem, who scored her first goal of the season to bring the match even at 1-1.

Long Beach State responded immediately and produced their strongest attacking stretch of the night over the final 17 minutes.

Olivia Yu put an attempt on goal in the 74th minute before the Beach generated four shots in less than a minute in the 80th. Cox and Nikki Velasco each had attempts saved, while Banks had another shot blocked and Cox sent an additional attempt wide.

White continued the pressure late, putting a shot on frame in the 84th minute. Following a Beach corner, Natalie Arnold forced another save before White had another attempt stopped seconds later. Long Beach State ultimately produced seven shots on goal after Grand Canyon's equalizer but could not break through for the winning goal.

After being outshot 12-4 in the first half, the Beach reversed the pressure after halftime with a 10-7 advantage in shots. Grand Canyon finished with a 19-14 edge overall, but Long Beach State put nine shots on goal compared to eight for the Lopes.

Schuck finished with seven saves, setting a new season high. She has now made 23 saves through six starts while posting a .920 save percentage and 0.33 goals-against average. Schuck remains unbeaten in goal at 4-0-2.

Cox led the Beach with five shots and three attempts on goal. White put all three of her shots on target, while Banks added two attempts. Long Beach State finished with nine shots on goal from 14 total attempts.

White's assist continued her outstanding start to the season. The sophomore now has seven assists through seven matches, averaging one assist per game, along with one goal and nine points. She has already surpassed the six assists she recorded over 18 matches as a freshman in 2025.

Cox has been equally productive during the Beach's unbeaten opening stretch. She has seven goals and 15 points through seven matches, averaging one goal per contest, and has scored in four of the last five matches.

Long Beach State remains one of the nation's unbeaten teams at 5-0-2 and has outscored opponents 14-2 through seven matches. The Beach have recorded five shutouts while allowing an average of just 0.29 goals per match.

The Beach return to George Allen Field on Saturday, Sept. 12, hosting Utah at 7 p.m.