OREM, Utah-The Utah Valley University men's soccer team picked up a 3-0 shutout victory over Houston Baptist Sunday afternoon in its home finale at Clyde Field.
 
With just two regular season games remaining, the win gives the Wolverines three important points in the team's bid for securing a spot in this year's WAC Tournament. The win pushes Utah Valley's record to 7-6-2 overall and 3-3-2 in WAC play. Houston Baptist falls to 2-10-2 overall and 1-7-1 in conference play.
 
"This was a much needed win," said Utah Valley head coach Greg Maas. "We told the guys in the locker room that it was a must win match today to give ourselves a real good chance at getting into the WAC championship. So today was good and the result was fantastic. To finish this way in front of our home crowd today was tremendous."
 
Freshman Chandler Boyd scored his first-ever collegiate goal in the 32^nd minute to put the Wolverines up 1-0. Boyd got past a defender and put the ball in the back of the net from the top of the 18 for the score. Freshmen Joe Barakat and Karson Payton were credited with assists on the goal.
 
"That first goal in the first half was fantastic," Maas said. "We've been waiting 14 games to get that first half goal. It was a nice little combination from Karson to Chandler Boyd and he did a great job with a tremendous finish."
 
Freshman Lucas Cawley gave Utah Valley a 2-0 lead in the 49^th minute after stealing a ball from a HBU defender and putting it past the keeper for his third goal of the season.
 
Payton scored the final goal of the day in the 60^th minute to help the Wolverines secure the 3-0 victory. The freshman forward sent a free kick from 35 yards out that one-bounced into the net for his fourth goal of the year.
 
The Wolverines out-shot Houston Baptist 23-12 on the day, including a 13-4 shots on goal advantage. Payton led UVU with five shots, while Matt Gay and Cawley each tallied four.
 
Freshmen Collin Partee and Derek Wilcox partnered up to secure Utah Valley's fourth clean sheet of the season. Partee recorded three saves in 73 minutes of action, while Wilcox played the final 17 minutes in between the posts.
 
Utah Valley will conclude its regular season with a pair of road games next week. The Wolverines will travel to take on Bakersfield on Nov. 7 at 8 p.m. MT and San Jose State on Nov. 9 at 2 p.m. MT.