EDINGBURG, Texas—Nicole Ray scored the game winner and the Wolverine defense picked up their fifth shutout of the season in a 1-0 win at UT Rio Grande Valley on Saturday morning at the UTRGV Soccer Complex.
 
Utah Valley wins its fourth straight match and improves to 6-2-1 overall and 5-1-0 in WAC play. UTRGV falls to 4-3-2 overall and 1-3-1 in league play.
 
"I'm happy with another shutout and am proud of the way we managed the game," said Utah Valley head coach Chris Lemay. "We knew coming in that it would be a tricky trip and we would have to perform well to earn six points. Our players were disciplined and played smart enough to get the results. Nicole (Ray) is a talented player that we know is going to produce a lot on the attack and this weekend, she was huge in scoring two goals and having an assist."
 
UVU scored its game winner in the 47th minute after Julianna Carter slid to punch the ball away from a pair of UTRGV defenders, keeping the ball alive near the box on the UVU offensive side of the pitch. Amber Tripp then gathered the ball and sent it forward to Sadie Brockbank, who then made a move around a defender in the box and fired a shot off the near post. Ray was then in the right position to rebound the ball and fire it into the back of the net for the score to give UVU what would eventually be the game winner.
 
The goal was the second of the two-match series for Ray, who scored the first goal and then assisted the game winner in UVU's 3-1 win over UTRGV in the first game on Thursday night.
 
Utah Valley outshot the Vaqueros 18-8 on the day, including a 10-2 advantage on frame. Brockbank led the Wolverines with a match-high five shots, including three on goal. Heather Stainbrook had four shots with one of frame. Ray and Tripp each had three shots.
 
Isabel Jones-Dawe picked up the shutout in the box with a pair of saves.
 
Utah Valley now returns home to continue WAC play against California Baptist (5-1-1, 3-1-0) on March 11 and 13 at Clyde Field. Kickoff for Thursday's game is set for 6 p.m., while Saturday's match will begin at 1 p.m.