SEATTLE — The Utah Valley men's soccer team lost its first game of the season after a flurry of second half goals from the No. 8/2 Washington Huskies led to a 4-1 defeat. After holding the Huskies scoreless in the first half, UW broke through with four goals in the first 18 minutes of the second half, including an Ilijah Paul hat trick, to put the game away. 

Jason Smith was put to the test in the first half, racking up four saves, none closer than a header from Paul in the 5th minute. Paul sent a header on goal from just outside the goal area, but Smith was able to tip the ball away before it could cross the goal line. 

Paul was able to find the back of the net two minutes into the second half off of a free kick in the attacking third. The ball bounced around inside the penalty area before Paul was able to corral the ball and fire it into the right side of the goal.

The Huskies quickly doubled their lead in the 51st minute with Lucas Meeks sending a shot on goal that was initially saved by Smith, but Paul was able to pounce on the rebound and fire it into the back of the net. 

Gio Miglietti added a third for UW in the 63rd minute when a Husky corner rattled around the box before landing at his feet. Paul got his hat trick in the 64th minute when he received a cross from Omar Grey just inside the penalty area and fired it into the right side of the net.

Mark Andros pulled one back in the 78th minute off a feed from Diego Sanchez. The Wolverines had numbers in the attacking third in the 82nd minute, but the Washington defense was able to shut down the scoring opportunity. 

The Wolverines have the next few days off from competition before returning to action on Thursday against the CSUN Matadors in Northridge, Calif. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. MDT and will be streamed on ESPN+.