OREM, Utah — Zach Lifferth scored a 90th-minute game winning goal to secure a 2-1 come-from-behind Senior Night victory for Utah Valley (7-5-4, 2-3-2 WAC) over the Utah Tech Trailblazers in the Old Hammer Rivalry on Monday night at Clyde Field.
The Wolverines were knocking on the Trailblazers' door for most of the second half, but weren't able to find the breakthrough goal until Lifferth's flick on goal took a fortuitous bounce off Utah Tech keeper Stockton Short's fingertips.
"It was a long time coming," said head coach Kyle Beckerman on the game-winner. "We'd been pushing and pushing, and I'm just so proud of the guys for getting rewarded. [The goal by Lifferth] is a credit to him. He's been working and working, and all that finally paid off for him. We need guys to get hot here at the end of the season, so it's great for him and great for the team."
Lifferth's goal came with just 19 seconds left on the clock, the latest game-winning goal in regulation in program history. The previous best also came on Senior Night in 2022, an 88th-minute strike by Mark Andros to beat CBU that sent the team to the WAC Tournament.
Prior to the game, the Wolverines honored their eight graduating seniors — Nik Kizerian, Tom Dobek-Pietrowski, Nate Kovalcik, Souley Diouf, Omar Yehya, Issaka Salifu, Lucas Valois, and Ben Ortiz — who all played the final home games of their collegiate careers.
The Trailblazers struck first in the fourth minute on a counterattack. Utah Tech's Austin Wallace cut in from the left flank and snuck a shot past Ben Williams at his near post.
Utah Valley got on level terms in the 28th minute off of a corner kick. Gilles Aurelien played the ball short to Yehya, who cut toward the end line and chipped in a cross that found the head of fellow Redlands, Calif. native Kovalcik, who thumped it home.
After combining for four shots in the first half, the game opened up for both sides in the second half with a combined 12 shots in the second period. The Trailblazers held the advantage in shots on goal overall at 6-4.
The Wolverines came inches away from a goal in the 55th minute, but it took a spectacular double save by Short to keep them off the board. Noah Pogue's initial shot off a cross was turned aside, then Alex Fritcher's second effort was sent behind for a corner.
Utah Tech gave Utah Valley some scares on the counter in the second half, none more than in the 73rd minute. Sami Cuevas cut in from the right flank and sent a shot on goal that was saved by Ben Williams, then the rebound was sent just over the crossbar by Daichi Saito on a wide-open net. Williams made five saves in the second half, including four in the final 17 minutes.
The Wolverines found the breakthrough goal they so desperately needed in the 90th minute. Keith Willey lofted a cross over the top for Aurelien, who dribbled toward the far corner flag. Aurelien beat his man before sending a cross into the 18 that found Lifferth's foot, who flicked it into the back of the net.
Utah Valley will hit the road for the final two matches of the regular season, beginning on Thursday at first place San Diego State, who will be looking to secure the WAC regular season title in the Aztecs' first season in the league since 1998. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. MDT, and the game will be streamed on WAC International.
