NORTHRIDGE, Calif. — Second half goals from Mark Andros and Kendi Bellini propelled the Utah Valley men's soccer team to a 2-0 win over the CSUN Matadors on Thursday night at Matador Soccer Field. Jason Smith tallied five saves en route to his third clean sheet in the first four matches of the season. 

The first half started out slow with both teams feeling each other out as they tested their limits in the Southern California heat. Temperatures in Northridge were in the mid- to upper-90's for the vast majority of the game. 

The Matadors had a great chance to open the scoring in the 16th minute off of a misplayed cross. Smith came off his line to play the cross, but his punch didn't connect. The ball was headed back to Marley Edwards at the top of the penalty area, but his shot on the wide-open net was blocked by Nico Torres. 

Ura Miura looked to have opened the scoring in the 19th minute, but his header was called back for offside. 

The next scoring opportunity for Utah Valley came in the 38th minute when a cross rattled around the six-yard box and landed at the feet of Ahmed Ibrahimovic. His shot at the near post was blocked by a Matador defender and cleared away. 

Edwards forced a pair of saves out of Smith in the 57th and 62nd minutes, but the sophomore shot-stopper was able to turn away both attempts.

Utah Valley responded right away on the counterattack in the 63rd minute off the foot of Andros. Miura's initial shot was saved by Cooper Wenzel, but the rebound fell to Andros, who used some clever footwork to step over the keeper and fire the ball just inside the left post.

Relentless defensive pressure from Bellini led to the Wolverines' second goal in the 67th minute. Bellini stole the ball from a Matador defender in the CSUN penalty area and immediately fired the ball into the bottom-right corner to double Utah Valley's lead.

The Wolverines will remain in Southern California for one more game, taking on the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos on Sunday. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m, MDT and the match will be streamed on ESPN+.