USAF Academy, Colo. – Karson Payton's 87th-minute goal capped a late flurry and helped Utah Valley University to a 2-1 win at Air Force in WAC men's soccer on Friday night. UVU improves to 6-5-1 overall and 2-2-1 in the WAC while the Falcons drop to 6-4-4 overall and 2-3-1 in league play.

With UVU holding a 1-0 lead with less than five minutes on the clock, Air Force's Scott McGillivray got the equalizer with a left-footer from 25 yards out off the right post and in. Payton came right back though, just 37 seconds later, curling the game-winner inside the right post off a Lucas Cawley assist.

"To have given up the equalizer late and then to come back and score immediately thereafter showed this team's never-say-die approach," said UVU head coach Greg Maas. "I didn't see panic in our player's eyes and they showed resiliency to come back just one minute later."

The first goal of the match came in the 74th minute, when Matt Gay rocketed a free kick from 25 yards out into the left corner for his team-high sixth goal of the season.
 
Utah Valley finished with 20 shots, with 11 coming on goal while Air Force finished with 12 shots, five on goal. Collin Partee had four saves in goal for the Wolverines with Jake Schenk recording eight saves for the Falcons.

The win marks the first true road win in the UVU's inaugural season. The team did enter with one win away from home, over UC Riverside on a neutral field in Las Vegas, but had yet to secure a win in three road contests prior to Friday night.

"This was a significant victory for us to garner a result on the road," said Maas. "We now need to back it up with a good result in Kansas City against a team that has proven to be dangerous."

The Wolverines will face UMKC on Sunday at 1 p.m. CT/noon MT. The Kangaroos have won two straight, winning at UNLV last Sunday before scoring three late goals to top Seattle, 3-2, on Friday night.
 
Following Sunday's game UVU will return to Clyde Field for the final two home matches of the season, hosting Incarnate Word on Friday, Oct. 31 at 4 p.m. MT and Houston Baptist on Sunday, Nov. 2 at 1 p.m. MT.