PHOENIX – Utah Valley University suffered a heartbreaker, falling 3-2 in overtime at Grand Canyon University on Sunday night at GCU Stadium in Western Athletic Conference men's soccer.
 
UVU senior defender Chandler Baddley picked an opportune time to score his first career goal when he tied the match for the Wolverines (6-9-2, 3-4-2) in the 90th minute of regulation, forcing the extra time. Baddley rebounded a shot by Gui Leme that was saved by GCU goalkeeper Jeremy Pollard and knotted the match at 2-2.
 
Damian German won it for the Lopes (7-9-1, 4-4-1) with just over two minutes to go in the first overtime frame, scoring the golden goal on a rebound to earn Grand Canyon three vital points and pushing them into the WAC Tournament picture.
 
"The end result is difficult to accept, but I couldn't be more proud of this team and their commitment to the bitter end to find the equalizer and send the match into overtime," UVU head coach Greg Maas said. "We must now put the result behind us and change our focus as we prepare for Seattle at home on senior night with a WAC tournament berth in the balance."
 
Karson Payton gave UVU an early lead, scoring on a header into the left-side netting on a well-placed cross from Jaiden Waggoner. It was the second goal in as many games for Payton.
 
Niki Jackson found the equalizer in the 28th minute on a header, sending the match in the halftime tied at 1-1. Josh Drack scored a go-ahead goal for Grand Canyon in the 70th minute before Baddley's equalizer in the waning seconds.
 
The loss drops Utah Valley into seventh place, tied with UT Rio Grande Valley with 11 points. The top seven teams qualify for the WAC Tournament and UTRGV owns the tiebreaker should the teams finish in a two-way tie. The Wolverines host Seattle U on Saturday night at 7 p.m. and need at least a point to move into the tournament picture. A win would likely push UVU into the tournament, but with a five-way tie for four spots still a mathematical possibility, a number of scenarios would have to be factored.