WOLVERINES HOME TO HOST UMKC
Utah Valley University men's soccer rides a season-best four-match winning streak into a Saturday home contest against UMKC. The game begins at 7 p.m. MT at Clyde Field in Orem and can be seen live on the WAC Digital Network.
The Wolverines (7-5-0, 4-1-0) secured two big road wins last week and are tied with No. 15 Air Force atop the WAC table with 12 points. With the recent streak, UVU is back in the United Soccer Coaches Far West Region rankings at No. 10.
"Saturday's match is massive as we hit the midway point of conference play. This team absolutely loves to dig in and compete and their maturity, patience, and belief in each other is ironclad," UVU head coach Greg Maas said. "Training has been sharp and focused, and the boys are prepared for another exciting match on Clyde Field in front of our 12th Wolverines in The Den."
LAST TIME OUT
The wins last week came in a 1-0 shutout at California Baptist before a 2-1 come-from-behind win at CSU Bakersfield last Sunday. Austin Buxton scored the game-winner at CBU, scoring on a Zach Maas assist 11 minutes into the second half for the game's only goal. Goalkeeper Joseph Wheelwright, who was named the WAC Defensive Player of the Week on Monday, had four saves in earning his third clean sheet of 2018.
The win over California Baptist marked the program's -- and Maas' -- 50th all-time victory. The men's soccer program at UVU began in 2014 and is in just its fifth season of competition.
At CSUB, the Wolverines trailed 1-0 after a 21st-minute goal from the Runners, but Alec Felix tied it with just 29 seconds left in the first half. Samuel Krommenhoek's long throw-in was headed by Caleb Wight to Felix, who finished it with a header. The gamewinner came with just under 10 minutes remaining, on a give-and-go from Leo Fuchs to Luis Garza and back to Fuchs for the game-winner. Wheelwright collected five saves in the match.
UP NEXT
Utah Valley wraps up its 2018 home slate next week with games against Seattle U and San José State. The Redhawks, the preseason pick to win the WAC, come to Orem for match on Thursday, Oct. 18 with the Spartans in town on Saturday, Oct. 20 on what will be Senior Night.
WHEELWRIGHT NAMED WAC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Joseph Wheelwright was named UVU's first WAC Player of the Week on Oct. 8 when received the defensive honor after leading the Wolverines to two WAC road wins. At California Baptist, he made four saves to earn his third shutout of the season in a 1-0 win. Wheelwright followed that up with five saves and one goal allowed in a 2-1 win at CSU Bakersfield two days later.
