OREM—Nicole Olanda sent a free kick into the box from 45 yards out and Jenna Shepherd rose up and headed it into the back of the net for the game winner to give Utah Valley a 2-1 overtime victory over Northern Arizona on Monday night at Clyde Field.
 
"I'm really proud of our team for rolling up their sleeves and finding a way to get it done," said Utah Valley head coach Chris Lemay. "We knew it was going to be tricky after a big result against Arizona on Friday night, classes starting, and a lot of extra things going on in our player's lives today. NAU's a team that's been to the NCAA Tournament a bunch of times over the past few years. We knew they would be good and that they would be up for it. The first 15 minutes of the game didn't go how we wanted, but at the end we were able to break them down and it felt like we were going to get a result tonight and that it was just a matter of when."
 
Northern Arizona (0-2-0) took a 1-0 lead on an own goal in the 16th minute as Madison Montgomery dribbled down the right side of the box and sent a cross into the middle of the box which was deflected by a UVU player and into the goal for the score in the 16th minute.
 
Utah Valley (2-0-0) scored the equalizer in the 72nd minute as Ashley Hughes sprinted with the ball down the right side and passed it to the top of the box to Heather Stainbrook. Stainbrook then one-touched it to herself, collided with a NAU defender, and fell to the ground with the ball. She then got back up and fired a shot with her left foot past the NAU keeper for the score, tying the game at 1-1.
 
Amber Tripp was fouled on the right side of the field about 45 yards out setting up a free kick with 24 seconds remaining in the first overtime. Olanda floated the ball into the box where Shepherd headed it past the keeper and into the net to secure the Wolverines the golden goal 2-1 victory.
 
Utah Valley outshot Northern Arizona 22-7 on the night, including a 9-2 advantage on goal. The Wolverines also had six corner kicks to NAU's four. The Wolverines outshot NAU 4-0 in the overtime period. Stainbrook led UVU with a game-high six shots, including three on frame. Sadie Brockbank had four shots, while Nicole Ray had three.
 
The Utah Valley defense only gave up the own goal and allowed NAU only two shots on goal on the night. Brooklyn Nielsen led the Wolverines in the box with two saves.
 
The Wolverines continue play this week as the team travels north on I-15 to Ogden to take on in-state rival Weber State on Thursday. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Wildcat Soccer Field. The match will be broadcast on ESPN+.