Western Washington traveled to Grand Canyon over the weekend in a D1AA/D1A crossover match, and while GCU came away with the win, the Vikings have to feel relatively good about it all.

Led by an impressive game from Eli Ashmann, who scored four tries and set up a fifth, Western actually led fairly late in the game 34-31.

But GCU managed to score twice in the closing minutes to win 41-34.

“It was a wild game,” said GCU Head Coach Sean O’Leary. “It was back-and-forth the whole way. People said it was a good game to watch.”

It was certainly exciting although perhaps a bit nerve-wracking for the coaches.

“They came to play and that’s great credit to Adam and Paul and the rest of their staff,” said O’Leary, referring to WWU Coaches Adam Roberts and Paul Horne. “Their players are a great credit to their parents and their university. Our players enjoyed breaking brea with them post-game and we look forward to visiting them next season.”

GCU hooker Brad Kissinger, and the man who came on as his finisher in the second half, Daniel Callahan, but played superbly and had their best games ever for GCU. Freshman scrumhalf Vance Disney was also impressive.

GCU led 31-22 with about 15 minutes to go but then Ashmann scored a brilliant, long-range try and then capped off a good WWU movement to score another to make it, with George Pritchard slotting the tough conversions, 34-31. 

With about four minutes to go GCU took a lineout after a Western Washington penalty, and then spun the ball wide, and very deep, and Lewis raced around the outside to score in the corner. And then with time expired GCU exploited an overload on the left side and Marcus Terzoli charged over to ice it.