#15/19 Utah Valley at Incarnate Word
Saturday, Nov. 5 | 8 p.m. CT/7 p.m. MT
San Antonio, Texas | Gayle & Tom Benson Stadium
Live Video | Live Stats
WOLVERINES AIM FOR REGULAR SEASON TITLE
No. 15/19 Utah Valley University men's soccer takes aim at its first WAC Championship in Saturday's final regular season match at Incarnate Word, slated to begin at 8 p.m. CT/7 p.m. MT. With 15 wins on the season, UVU enters the weekend tied with top-ranked Maryland and No. 9 Denver for the most victories in the country.
The Wolverines (15-3-0, 8-1-0) currently have 24 points, one in front of Seattle U, which plays at Air Force in a match that begins at 1 p.m. MT on Saturday. Due to that game's earlier start, UVU will know what it needs to do to secure the title prior to kick at Incarnate Word in San Antonio. If the Wolverines match Seattle's result--both teams win, both teams tie or both teams lose--it would result in a WAC title for UVU.
"Our final conference match represents a special moment for this team and university — an opportunity to secure the WAC regular season championship," said UVU head coach
Greg Maas. "UIW is a difficult opponent and it's their final match of the season, but there has been a different intensity and focus the past few weeks within our team, and I look forward to kick-off on Saturday night."
For the second straight season Utah Valley and Seattle have secured the top two spots and will both receive a bye into the WAC Tournament semifinals next week at Clyde Field in Orem. UVU will play its first match on Friday, Nov. 11 at 6 p.m. MT.
The Wolverines extended their school-record win streak to eight with a pair wins last week at home. UVU ran past Grand Canyon, 3-1, before edging UNLV on a late
Paul Hoffmeister goal, 2-1.
Skyler Milne,
Gui Leme and
Joe Barakat scored in the win over GCU. Against UNLV,
Donnett Sackie scored the game-tying goal in the final minute of the first half and assisted on the game-winner with seven minutes to go.
Aaron Meyer had an assist in each of the games, giving him nine on the season which puts him first in the WAC and tied for sixth in the nation in total assists. Meyer was fifth in the nation in total assists as a freshman in 2015.
The Wolverines have 10 shutouts on the season, five of which have come in WAC play with
Mitch Jensen in goal. Now qualified for the official NCAA statistics, Jensen leads the nation in goals against average (.333) while UVU ranks 12th in the nation in shutout percentage and 22nd in goals against average.
ABOUT THE CARDINALS
Incarnate Word (4-9-3, 2-5-2) will be playing its final match of the season on Saturday night. The Cardinals, like Grand Canyon, are in their final year of re-classification and will be eligible for the postseason beginning with the 2017-18 season. UIW is one of five affiliate members of the WAC in men's soccer. The Cardinals are 2-2-2 at home including a draw against Seattle U earlier in the WAC season.
NEFF NAMED FINALIST FOR SENIOR CLASS AWARD
Defender
Alex Neff was named a finalist for the Senior CLASS Award on Nov. 2, joining a list of 10 men's players across the country. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition. A fan vote online will be one-third of the final tally with a vote by head coaches and media the other two-thirds.
COMING UP
The WAC Tournament begins next Thursday, Nov. 10 at Clyde Field in Orem with the quarterfinal matches at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. MT. The semifinals will be Friday at the same time with the championship on Sunday, Nov. 13 at 1 p.m. MT.
