PHOENIX—Julianna Carter found the back of the net in the 70th minute to lift Utah Valley to a 1-0 shutout win over Grand Canyon on Thursday night in the team's WAC opener at GCU Stadium in Phoenix.
 
Utah Valley improves to 2-1-1 overall and 1-0-0 in WAC play with the win. Grand Canyon falls to 0-5-0 overall and 0-1-0 in league play.
 
"We managed the game well and never got frantic," said Utah Valley head coach Chris Lemay. "We stuck to the game plan and created a lot of chances and one finally went through. We were sound defensively and we're happy to get the WAC shutout win. Now we'll turn around and try and figure out how to do it again on Saturday."
 
Sadie Brockbank took the ball just inside the box on the left side and passed it outside to Cassidy McCormick who settled it and then sent a cross with her left foot to Carter on the right side. Carter then one-touched it into the back of the net with her left foot for the game winner in the 70th minute. The goal is the first of the season for Carter and the ninth of her career. Brockbank and McCormick were each credited with an assist on the score.
 
"It was a brilliant ball by Cass and a great finish by Julie in a critical moment of the match," said Lemay.
 
Isabel Jones-Dawe and the UVU defense picked up their second shutout of the season. Jones-Dawe had a season-high four saves in the win.
 
Brockbank led the Wolverines with a match-high eight shots, including three on goal. Carter, Heather Stainbrook, and London Miller each had two shots apiece. Breanna Eves, Amber Tripp, and Anna Pickering each had one shot.
 
As a team, Utah Valley outshot Grand Canyon 17-13, including 8-4 on frame. The Wolverines had five corner kicks to GCU's three.
 
Utah Valley will continue WAC play at Grand Canyon on Saturday at 1 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on the WAC Digital Network and the Grand Canyon athletics YouTube channel.