OREM, Utah — Alex Fritcher, Souley Diouf, and Omar Yehya each scored to lead Utah Valley to a 3-1 win over the UC San Diego Tritons in the home opener at Clyde Field on Thursday night.
Isaac Emojong and Nate Kovalcik each picked up assists in the win as the Wolverines extended their program-record unbeaten streak at Clyde Field to 13 games, dating back to the first game of the 2022 season.
"We've been talking about as we're building our form and our fitness that we've got to be able to find ways to win while we're not at our best," said head coach Kyle Beckerman. "I don't think we were at our best today, but that's kind of what we expected. The boys did what they needed to do to win, and now we can build off of it."
The Utah Valley defense was strong in the home opener, holding the Tritons to just four shots, all of which came in the second half. The Wolverines also held UCSD without an open-play goal, as the Tritons lone goal came off of a PK following a handball in the box. Through three games, Utah Valley has conceded just two goals in open play.
After a slow opening 15 minutes, the Wolverines had two chances within a few minutes, the latter of which turned into the first goal of the night. In the 12th minute, Gilles Aurelien cut in from the left flank and ripped a shot on goal from the top of the penalty area, but it was right at Triton keeper Nolan Premack, who was an All-WAC goalie at California Baptist.
A free kick in the offensive half set up the Wolverines' first goal of the night. Emojong lofted a deep cross from the near side to the far post for Alex Fritcher, who headed it home just inside the right post.
Utah Valley kept the 1-0 advantage until the 70th minute when Aurelien was fouled on a breakaway just inside the UCSD penalty area. Diouf stepped up to take the spot kick and buried it into the right side of the net, sending Premack the wrong way.
A Wolverinehandball in the opposite 18 less than 90 seconds later cut the lead right back down to one, with Jonah Kawamura netting the spot kick.
Another set piece in the attacking half set up the third and final goal. Kovalcik stepped up to take the free kick and hit woodwork, but the Tritons were slow to respond, allowing Yehya to pounce on the loose ball and bury it into the wide-open net.
Utah Valley will return to the road for the next two games, with the longest road trip in program history by air miles. The Wolverines will head to Florida next week for a pair of games at Florida Atlantic on Sept. 5 and at Florida Gulf Coast on Sept. 8. Both games will be streamed live on ESPN+.
