OREM, Utah – Utah Valley University erased an early deficit and earned a 3-2, overtime win over Grand Canyon University on Saturday night at Clyde Field. The Wolverines got the game-winner on an own goal just 80 seconds into the first extra frame.
 
Alec Felix attempted to pass a ball forward into the 18 and, with Zach Maas pressuring the center back in the box, the attempt to clear the ball by the GCU defender slipped past the keeper and in to give the Wolverines (10-6-1, 7-3-0) the golden goal.
 
"Our start was shocking to be honest. To gift GCU two early goals made the end result even that much more impressive." UVU head coach Greg Maas said. "The entire team and staff took accountability at halftime, and our response showed incredible character and determination. To be fair, we also had some individual performances tonight that triggered an inspiring team response – I couldn't be more proud."
 
Both teams took turns bunching a pair of quick-strike scores together. GCU scored twice in the first half and led 2-0 until the 62^nd minute, when Sterling Penniston-John scored his first career Wolverine goal on a header. A long throw-in from Caleb Wight was deflected in the box, where Penniston-John got his head on it and scored past GCU keeper George Tasouris.
 
Zach Maas got the equalizer just over a minute later, scoring when Blake Frischknecht lofted a ball into the box and Maas settled with his chest and got the equalizer on a scissor-kick that glanced off the finger-tips of Tasouris. Maas has now scored in three straight games for UVU.
 
The Wolverines found themselves in a two-nil hole early after the Lopes scored twice in the span of 49 seconds less than eight minutes into the contest. Bert Wilton scored on a header in the seventh minute before Justin Rasmussen found the lower right corner with his left foot in the eighth minute. Rey Gaytan and Austin Day assisted on the first goal, and Marios Andreou and Gaytan assisted on the second.
 
By virtue of Saturday's win, Utah Valley secured no worse than the number three seed in the WAC Tournament. The Wolverines will close out the regular season next Saturday on Senior Day against Air Force. Start time for that match has been moved up to 1 p.m. MT with the team's seven seniors honored prior to the match.