PHOENIX—Cassidy McCormick fired in the game-winning penalty kick in the 76th minute to help lift Utah Valley to a 1-0 shutout win over rival Seattle U to claim the 2020-21 Western Athletic Conference Tournament championship on Saturday at GCU Stadium.
 
With the win, Utah Valley earns the WAC's automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament, which will take place in North Carolina beginning on April 27. The win marks UVU's third WAC Tournament title. The team also won the tournament in 2015 and 2017.
 
"We are absolutely thrilled," said Utah Valley head coach Chris Lemay. "At halftime we readjusted some things and talked about tempo and moving off the ball and trying to play our brand of soccer that got us here. In the final half, we executed really well. I couldn't be more happy for this group of young women because I love them and I'm so proud of them."
 
Breanna DeWall was fouled in the box in the 76th minute to secure the Wolverines the penalty kickj. McCormick, who had scored the final PK to help UVU advance past NM State in Thursday's semifinal, took the kick and fired it past the SU keeper and into the net for the game winner.
 
UVU's Isabel Jones-Dawe picked up UVU's 10th shutout of the season in the box after tallying a pair of impressive diving saves during the match.
 
UVU outshot Seattle 6-3 on shots on goal. Sadie Brockbank led Utah Valley with four shots, including one on goal. Anna Pickering had a pair of shots, while Heather Stainbrook, Breanna Eves, Jenna Shepherd, and McCormick each had one.

McCormick was named the tournament MVP and earned a spot on the All-Tournament team along with Stainbrook and Jones-Dawe.
 
The Wolverines will find out who their NCAA first-round opponent will be on Monday when the NCAA broadcasts its selection show at 11 a.m. MT on NCAA.com.