OREM, Utah — Oliver Watts scored his first collegiate goal and Adem Arous netted his second of the season to lead a second-half surge for Utah Valley past the reigning Big West champions UC Irvine, 2-0 in the conference opener on Wednesday at UCCU Stadium.
With the win, the Wolverines secured the distinction of being the only team in the country to end September unbeaten in each of the last two seasons. Utah Valley also matched the program record for longest unbeaten streak to start a season at seven games, and remain one of just seven teams in the country yet to taste defeat this campaign.
The Wolverines held the lion's share of the possession in the first half, out-shooting the Anteaters 8-1 and 2-0 on target, but were kept off the scoreboard until early in the second half.
In the 55th minute, Watts took a feed from fellow Danishman Luca Wingaa Laursen and dribbled through space before unleashing a shot from about 20 yards out that curled past the keeper.
Kolby Sessions was forced into his lone save of the night in the 67th minute, snuffing out a UCI counter by parrying a close-range shot off the outside of the post. With the clean sheet, Sessions moves into a tie for second all-time in program history with Joseph Wheelwright at eight career shutouts.
Arous doubled the advantage moments later in the 70th minute, capping off a run from Nil Grau. Grau beat his man to the end line before sending a cross into the 18 that was deflected out to a waiting Arous, who blasted a left-footed shot past the keeper at his near post.
The Wolverines had two shots on goal in the 80th minute, but both were saved.
Utah Valley will now head to Southern California for the next two games, first facing off against preseason Big West favorite UC Santa Barbara on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. MDT, and the game will be streamed live on ESPN+.
