Photo by Mykah Heaton
In the UVU men’s soccer team’s first match of the weekend, the Wolverines (2-1-0) got the 2-0 win over Cal State Fullerton (2-3-0) Friday night, despite the Titans dominating the possession battle for much of the night. It was the second shutout in three games for the Wolverines. Gui Leme scored a goal and tallied an assist and Paul Hoffmeister netted his first goal of the season in his first game of the season.
Elliott Rubio got the start back in net after leaving the 2-1 loss to CSUN on Sept. 1 in the first half with an injury. Unlike the Akron shutout to start the year, the Titans forced Rubio to put in plenty of work. He faced seven shots on goal and was able to make the save on each shot he faced, some with spectacular athleticism.
The Wolverines drew first blood in the 23rd minute when Leme scored his first goal of the season unassisted as he beat the Titan defense and snuck a shot past goalkeeper Paul-Andre Guerin. Shortly after Leme’s goal, the preseason all-American Hoffmeister checked in to a game for the Wolverines for the first time this season in the 31st minute after missing the first two matches of the season with an injury. Despite the Titans being able to put some good pressure on the Wolverines, UVU was able to close out the half with its lead intact.
The Titans did not lay off the attack in the second half, continuing to put pressure on Rubio and the Wolverine defense. In the 51st minute CSUF’s Alex Juarez had a laser of a shot into the box and a diving Rubio was barely able to deflect the shot wide for his best save of the night.
The match got chippy later in the second half. Karson Payton and CSUF’s Ross McPhie and Corentin Ohlmann were each given yellow cards in separate instances within the 64th and 65th minutes.
Shortly after the penalty drama was over, a counterattacking sequence was set up by Payton leading the attack down the field. In the 71st minute Leme got the assist and Hoffmeister wasted no time getting his first goal of the season. Afterwards, the Wolverines put the clamps down on the Titans and finished out the shutout.
UVU will have a short turnaround as they travel on to San Diego to face San Diego State on Sunday at 8 p.m. with a 2-0 weekend in its sights.
