BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—Kali Stubbs scored two goals to lead the Utah Valley University women's soccer team to a 2-0 win over Missouri-Kansas City Friday in the semifinals of the WAC Tournament at Main Soccer Field in Bakersfield, Calif.
 
With the win, Utah Valley (13-6-1) advances to Sunday's championship match to take on the winner of tonight's semifinal game between Seattle U and CSU Bakersfield. A win on Sunday would secure the Wolverines the WAC's automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.
 
"First off, hats off to UMKC," said Utah Valley head coach Brent Anderson. "They came out ready to battle tonight. I love the way that our team took the field tonight. I thought they created a lot of opportunities off the pressure they were putting on UMKC. I loved the second half. We knew UMKC would push and the team responded pretty well. They handled the pressure and weathered the storm and then broke out and got a couple of great goals from Kali Stubbs."
 
Stubbs scored her fifth and sixth goals of the season to help UVU secure the victory. The senior forward got UVU on the scoreboard in the 50th minute as Breanna McCarter made a pass from the left side to Stubbs, who one-touched it off the corner of the post and into the back of the net for the score.
 
Stubbs gave the Wolverines a 2-0 advantage in the 72nd minute after curling the ball inside the far post from the left edge of the 18.  Taylor Kirk was credited with an assist on the goal.
 
"Kali was clutch tonight," said Anderson. "It's a great moment for her. She's selfless. She didn't start the match knowing that she would get her opportunities and when she did, she made the most out of them."
 
WAC Defensive Player of the Year Jessica Duffin led the defensive effort for UVU as she picked up her seventh shutout of the season. Duffin tallied seven saves in the shutout to help extend her UVU all-time shutouts mark to 16.
 
Utah Valley will play for the WAC Tournament championship on Sunday at 1 p.m. PT/2 p.m. MST. The Wolverines will face the winner of tonight's semifinal match between Seattle U and CSU Bakersfield.
 
"This is what you compete for," said Anderson. "Day after day you train and compete to have the opportunity like this. These girls have worked very hard and have been focused on an opportunity and the work that it takes to get to this point. We will celebrate tonight and start the recovery process and will be ready to play on Sunday."