EDINBURG, Texas – Blake Frischknecht scored for the fifth straight match as Utah Valley University picked up a big road win in WAC play, 2-1, at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on Friday night. Frischknecht's game-winner snapped a three-match winning streak for the Vaqueros', who are ranked No. 24 by TopDrawerSoccer.com.
"Tonight was a defining performance. A great opponent in a difficult environment on the road, but our determination and resiliency in key moments proved to be the difference — I honesty couldn't be more proud," UVU head coach
Greg Maas said. "Our response in the second half after giving up a late penalty was fantastic. The go-ahead goal was special, but defensively we were determined to roll up our sleeves and grind out a result. Our focus now changes to recovery and getting ready for another big match on Sunday against UIW in San Antonio."
With the matched knotted at 1-1 in the 56th minute,
Mark Brown led Frischknecht into the box and after his first touch, Frischknecht fired it past UTRGV goalkeeper Andy Rios to give the Wolverines the lead for good.
The game was tied 1-1 after 45 minutes;
Aaron Caprio scored in the 15th minute for UVU and Kyle Edwards scored for UTRGV in the 45th minute.
UTRGV nearly had the equalizer in the 89th minute of the match, but were offside, negating any potential score.
UVU overcame six whistled yellows and a red card, playing the final 11-plus minutes down a man to notch the win and earn the three points to keep pace atop the WAC table.
Caprio got his head on a free kick from
Zach Maas to get Utah Valley on the board first. It was the senior defender's second career goal and Maas' second assist in as many games.
UT Rio Grande Valley tied the match in the final minute of the first half when a handball was called against the Wolverines in the box and Edwards converted the ensuing penalty kick.
Utah Valley now heads to San Antonio to face Incarnate Word on Sunday a 2 p.m. CT/1 p.m. MT. UIW dropped a 3-1 contest to Air Force in WAC play on Friday night.
