SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Utah Valley dropped its first contest of the 2026 season, falling on the road against preseason Big West favorite UC Santa Barbara, 3-2 at Harder Stadium on Saturday night.
The Wolverines traded 2-0 after 31 minutes and 3-0 at the 50-minute mark, but were able to trim the deficit down to one with just under five minutes to go. Utah Valley was unable to find the equalizer after dominating possession in the final 30 minutes.
UCSB got on the board in the 16th minute after a cross was cleared to the top of the 18, but Peleg Brown's ensuing shot was able to beat Kolby Sessions at the left post.
Some strong defending prevented the lead from being doubled just over 30 seconds later as Toke Amtrup slid in to block Donovan Sessoms' shot. Sessoms got his goal in the 31st minute, however, unleashing an unsaveable shot from just outside the box.
Utah Valley was held to just one shot in the first half, a tame effort on a free kick in the 43rd minute.
The Gauchos got their third in the 50th minute following a coach's challenge that gave the hosts a penalty. Sessoms buried the spot kick.
Utah Valley got its own PK three minutes later as Amtrup was fouled in the box. Jose Luis Martin Montealegre sent the keeper diving the wrong way to make it 3-1.
The Wolverines came inches away from making it a one-goal game in the 68th minute on their first corner of the game. Amtrup's header was saved off the line by a Gaucho defender and off the post before being fully cleared.
Brayden Tester cut the deficit in half in the 86th minute on a looping cross from Oliver Watts. Ashton Wheeler headed it on for his fellow centerback, who chipped it past the keeper.
Utah Valley got one last shot in the 88th minute, but Montealegre's shot was off target.
The Wolverines will stay in Southern California for a few more days before facing off with the Cal State Fullerton Titans on Wednesday. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. MDT, and the game will be streamed live on ESPN+ and Big West International.
