SANDY, Utah —  Carson Hodgson's brace spoiled Kyle Beckerman's return to America First Field, as the No. 23/RV Western Michigan Broncos surged to a 3-1 victory over the Utah Valley men's soccer team on Sunday afternoon. 

Michele Signorelli scored his first UVU goal early in the second half to bring the Wolverines level, but the Broncos were able to respond with two more second half goals to pull away. 

Hodgson and Western Michigan struck first in the ninth minute. Jonathan Robinson's lofted cross was headed back across goal by Jaylen Shannon to a waiting Hodgson, who was unmarked in the middle of the penalty area.

The Broncos enjoyed most of the possession in the first half, but were only able to muster four shots. WMU held Utah Valley shotless for much of the first half until the 40th minute. 

The Wolverines looked sharp out of the break and dominated most of the possession early in the second half. Signorelli came on at halftime and provided an immediate spark, picking up a goal with his first touches of the game in the 51st minute. Signorelli was able to force a steal in the attacking half and dribble to the top of the penalty area, where he unleashed a rocket with his left foot into the bottom-right corner of the net. 

Things were on level terms for only a few minutes MAC Hermann preseason watch list honoree Charlie Sharp put the Broncos ahead for good in the 55th minute.

An increasingly chippy match reached a boiling point in the 70th minute when WMU's Tom Cooklin fouled Omar Yehya. In the ensuing fracas, Yehya shoved another Bronco player and was shown a straight red card.

Despite being down a man, the Wolverines were still able to maintain their attacking pressure. Utah Valley got off seven shots, including two on goal, in the final 20 minutes of the game.

Hodgson put the game on ice in the 88th minute when he was able to flick a cross into the back of the net off a cross from Sharp.

Up next, the Wolverines will head to Oregon to face a pair of tough opponents. Utah Valley will face off against Oregon State on Friday before facing the No. 13 Portland Pilots the following Monday.