OREM, Utah — Four different Wolverines found the back of the net to lead Utah Valley to a 4-0 win over the CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners on opening night at UCCU Stadium on Thursday.
Noah Pogue scored the first goal in the UCCU Stadium era to put UVU on top in the 27th minute and the Wolverines never looked back, rolling to a dominating win in all facets of the game.
"I liked the way we went about the whole game. I thought our effort and togetherness was massive today," said head coach Kyle Beckerman. "I knew there'd be some nerves, but the effort and grind to work for each other really got us over the hump and got us playing our soccer."
Nil Grau scored a goal and added an assist on his debut in a Wolverine shirt, all within the first half. Isaac Emojong and Alex Fritcher pitched in a pair of late goals to help Utah Valley pull away.
Keegan Oyler and Sharif Sayawu each pitched in a pair of assists, marking the first time two Wolverines each had two assists in the same game since 2021. Lewis Knecht also picked up an assist in his first game at the collegiate level.
Utah Valley held the Roadrunners without a single shot attempt until the 61st minute, and just one on goal all night. In all, the Wolverines out-shot CSUB 15-5 and 8-1 on goal.
The Wolverines had a couple of chances to open the scoring sooner, but weren't able to find the finishing touches. In the 10th minute, Oyler had his shot from outside the box turned aside and Trevor Walk's 15th minute strike was right at the keeper.
Pogue broke the deadlock in the 27th minute via a set piece. Oyler chipped a cross from the right flank to the far post for Grau, who centered it with the outside of his boot for Pogue, who tapped it in.
"Leading up to the goal, we had a couple of chances and didn't take advantage of them," said Pogue. "I was just the lucky one who happened to be in the right place there. After that, the confidence was high, everyone was looser, you saw the momentum shift, and we started playing more free."
An almost identical set piece in the 37th minute saw Grau double the Wolverine lead. From almost the same spot, Oyler lofted a cross for Grau, who this time volleyed it past the keeper.
Bakersfield had its only true chance of the game in the 61st minute off a giveaway just outside the 18. Chisom Ene took the errant pass and dribbled into the penalty area, but Kolby Sessions was able to turn it aside. CSUB had another shot in the 71st sail just over the crossbar.
The relentless Wolverine press turned in the third goal of the night in the 81st minute, as Sayawu dispossessed the keeper, allowing Emojong to tap it in for an easy finish.
A beautiful linkup play just outside the box capped the night in the 87th minute, as Knecht and Sayawu teed up Fritcher with a through ball, allowing the Wolverine captain to smash it in past the keeper at his near post.
The win extends Utah Valley's impressive home opener streak to 12 — every single home opener in the program's history. The Wolverines are also now 11-0-1 in season openers.
Utah Valley continues the season-opening homestand this Sunday at America First Field in Sandy against the Gonzaga Bulldogs. Kickoff is slated for 3 p.m. MDT, admission is free, and the first 200 fans will also receive a Kyle Beckerman bobblehead. The game will be streamed on ESPN+, with live stats available at GoUVU.com/stats.
