OREM, Utah – A four-goal outburst in the first half helped Utah Valley University coast to a 4-0 shutout of Florida Atlantic on Monday night at Clyde Field. The four goals matched the program record for goals in a half, set in the inaugural 2014 match against UMass, an eventual 5-1 victory. It also equaled the four-nil win over Evansville in last Friday's season opener. 
 
Just like in Friday's opener, Zach Maas scored an early goal for the game-winner. In the sixth minute, Maas slid through the defense and found a ball from Luis Garza right at the top of the 18. Maas' first attempt was saved but the UVU sophomore was there for the rebound and he quickly put it into the back of the net. 
 
"Tonight was a complete performance. We were able to score early, and defensively we locked down FAU and limited them to zero chances on goal," UVU head coach Greg Maas said. "It was a fantastic opening weekend on Clyde Field in front of our 12th Wolverines, but our focus has already shifted to two difficult opponents in UC Irvine and CSUN that we'll face this coming weekend in California." 

The match concluded the 2018 Utah Valley Soccer Invitational with Utah Valley and UNLV both going 2-0, and Evansville and FAU both finishing 0-2. By virtue of its plus-eight goal differential, the Wolverines were tournament champions. Maas was joined on the All-Tournament Team by Austin Buxton, who was named Most Valuable Player after two goals on Friday and two assists on Monday. Blake Frischknecht, Joseph Wheelwright, Ben Perkins, and Alec Felix were also on the team.

Just prior to the 22-minute mark, Frischknecht gave the Wolverines a 2-0 lead. Buxton stole the ball near midfield, carried it up the right sideline and delivered a perfect ball back to Frischknecht, who got his head on it and directed past the keeper's left and into the corner.
 
Buxton initiated the third goal of the half as well, just five minutes later, when he intercepted a ball with a toe poke to Zahir Vazquez that moment's later finished with a Luis Vargas goal. Vazquez took Buxton's pass and left the ball for the streaking Vargas, who fired a shot with his left foot across the goal mouth and into the lower right corner.
 
A foul in the box gave the Wolverines their fourth opportunity of the half, with the penalty kick converted by Felix for a 4-0 lead in the 37th minute.
 
The Wolverines had 10 of their 11 shots for the match finish on goal while the Owls (0-2-0) had 10 shots but none that were on frame. Joseph Wheelwright and Elliott Rubio split time in goal to earn the team's second clean sheet in a row to begin the season.
 
Utah Valley now hits the road for the next two weekends beginning with a Friday night contest at UC Irvine in Southern California. UVU will also play at CSUN in Northridge on Sunday afternoon.
 
Utah Valley Soccer Invitational All-Tournament Team
Austin Buxton, Utah Valley (MVP)
Joseph Wheelwright, Utah Valley
Ben Perkins, Utah Valley
Alec Felix, Utah Valley
Zach Maas, Utah Valley
Blake Frischknecht, Utah Valley 
Marco Gonzalez, UNLV 
Timo Melich, UNLV
Enrique Adame, UNLV
Jordan Chavez, UNLV
Jesse Stafford-Lacey, Evansville
Adam Snow, Evansville
Alex Alexis, FAU
Alonso Coelle, FAU

Tournament Standings
Utah Valley, 2-0*
UNLV, 2-0
Evansville, 0-2
FAU, 0-2

*Tournament winner via +8 goal differential