PHOENIX — Noah Pogue scored his third goal of the season in the 28th minute to give Utah Valley an early lead, but three unanswered goals from the GCU Lopes (7-2-1, 1-0 WAC) handed the Wolverines (6-1-1, 0-1 WAC) their first loss of the 2025 season, 3-1 at GCU Stadium on Saturday night.

The two sides were evenly matched for most of the night, even at 1-1 through the first 66 minutes, but two late goals from the Lopes star freshman Junior Diouf allowed GCU to pull away.

Utah Valley dominated the majority of the possession through the first 30 minutes, but had little to show for it until Keegan Oyler went on a run down the left flank. Oyler's cross deflected off of Jose Luis Martin Montealegre toward Noah Pogue, who volleyed it into the back of the net. The assist is Oyler's seventh of the season, moving him into a tie for second in the nation and extending his lead atop the assists per game leaderboard.

The Wolverines kept the Lopes off the board momentarily in the 36th minute after a turnover in the defensive third. Kolby Sessions made the initial save, then Alex Fritcher cleared the followup off the line.

GCU equalized in the 39th minute after earning a set piece just outside the box. Jorge Lopez's free kick went into the top-left corner of the net. The Lopes nearly scored again in the 41st minute, but Sessions snared the shot at his near post.

After intermission, Utah Valley had a flurry of scoring chances in the 53rd minute and somehow none of them found the back of the net. Two shots were on target and two were blocked.

GCU finally broke through in the 67th minute on a counter, with Diouf chipping a shot just past a diving Sessions inside the left post. 

Mason Abdella took a yellow card in the 71st minute, his fifth of the season. Abdella will have to miss the Wolverines' next game on Thursday against Air Force.

Utah Valley couldn't put away any of their many scoring chances over the next 10 minutes, with the best coming from Abdella in the 81st minute, but his cross rolled through the six untouched.

The Lopes put the game away in the 84th minute when Diouf secured his brace.

Utah Valley returns home for its next three matches, starting on Thursday against Air Force. That game will be Senior Night for the Wolverines, as the team will honor its 11 graduating players. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. MDT, with the Senior Night ceremony starting about 30 minutes before. Tickets can be purchased at GoUVU.com/MSOCtix.