#25 Utah Valley vs. Air Force
Friday, Oct. 2   |   7 p.m. MT
Clyde Field   |   Orem, Utah
WAC Digital Network   |   StatBroadcast   |   UVU Notes   |   Air Force Notes

#25 Utah Valley vs. Missouri-Kansas City
Sunday, Oct. 4   |   1 p.m. MT
Clyde Field   |   Orem, Utah
WAC Digital Network   |   StatBroadcast   
 

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25th-RANKED WOLVERINES OPEN WAC PLAY FRIDAY
On the heels of earning its first-ever national ranking -- in just its second season of existence -- Utah Valley University men's soccer is set to open Western Athletic Conference play with a pair of home matches this weekend. The 25th-ranked Wolverines (7-2-0) host Air Force on Friday at 7 p.m. and Missouri-Kansas City on Sunday at 1 p.m. Both games can be seen on the WAC Digital Network.

UVU was picked to finish fourth in the WAC Preseason Coaches Poll, right where the team finished in its inaugural season in 2014. Three of the top 30 teams in this week's first official NCAA RPI hail from the WAC with both Seattle (No. 24) and UVU in the NSCAA Top 25 Coaches Poll. Seattle is No. 16 in the RPI, UVU is No. 26, and UNLV is No. 27. The WAC also has five teams in the NSCAA West Region top 10, led by the Wolverines at No. 2 this week.

"The WAC has proven to be a very talented and competitive conference, and this year is no exception. Every game matters, and it's important we open conference play with a purpose that sets the tone for the remainder of our season," UVU head coach Greg Maas said.

ABOUT THE OPPOSITION
Air Force enters WAC play at 3-4-0 on the season and ended a four-match skid with a road win at Bradley (1-0) last week, handing the Braves their only home loss of the season. Tucker Axhoj leads the team with three goals and an assist (seven points). The Wolverines won 2-1 at Air Force last season, answering an 86th minute equalizer by the Falcons less than a minute later with a Karson Payton game-winner.

Missouri-Kansas City will play at Seattle U on Friday before coming to Orem for Sunday's match. The Kangaroos (2-4-1) have lost three straight after suffering an overtime loss to Tulsa (3-2) on Sept. 21. Pandelis Popgeorgiev has three goals to lead UMKC. The 'Roos shutout Utah Valley last season in Kansas City, 1-0. UMKC is the host for the 2015 WAC Tournament in November with Kansas City also hosting the 2015 College Cup in December.

LAST TIME OUT
UVU closed out non-conference play last week with a come-from-behind 2-1 win over 2014 Big West Tournament Champion Cal State Fullerton. The Wolverines trailed 1-0 before two quick goals -- in a span of 76 seconds -- helped earn the victory. Alex Neff's header in the 72nd minute off of an Aaron Meyer corner kick served as the equalizer. Payton put home the game-winner in the 73rd minute on a free kick from Neff.

The goal from Neff was the first of the defender's career while Payton notched his third game-winner of the season. Meyer's assist was his WAC-leading fourth with the freshman also leading the team with 10 points and sharing the team high in goals (3) with Payton and Austin Buxton.

UP NEXT
The Wolverines head to Texas next week for a pair of road matches beginning with first-year program the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on Oct. 9. They'll wrap the quick, two-game trip at Houston Baptist on Sunday, Oct. 11.