Wolverines not at full strength as Redhawks dominate possession and defensively
Brad Curnow | Sports Writer | @jojocornrow
OREM, Utah – The 13th-ranked Seattle University Redhawks came into Clyde Field on Saturday night for their match against UVU in the regular season finale with one mindset. Win. The Redhawks defeated the Wolverines 2-0 and sophomore David Olsen put both goals in the back of the net for the Redhawks.
“Really pleased because I thought we had a very complete effort tonight,” Seattle U head coach Pete Fewing said. “We expected to come in a get a game from Utah Valley, which we did and I thought we just did a good job.”
It took nearly the entire first half of play before Seattle U cracked the scoreboard. In the 44th minute Sam Langston served a ball into the box and David Olsen elevated to head the ball into the right corner past UVU goalkeeper Colin Partee.
“I was really happy our guys played so well,” Fewing said. “That’s a very good team. That’s one of the better teams we have seen all season.”
Langston would connect with Olsen again in the 55th minute as Olsen took the ball into the box and beat Partee to the right post for his 13th goal of the season.
UVU was without reigning WAC Defensive Player of the Week Alex Neff, who sat out as a precaution with yellow card accumulation. Aaron Meyer joined Neff on the bench in the second half for yellow card accumulation precautions after receiving a caution in the 27th minute.
“We just couldn’t risk putting [Neff] into a game where a yellow card was going to keep him out of the semifinals at the WAC Championship,” UVU head coach Greg Maas said. “Aaron Meyer getting a card in the first half really hurt. That took away some of our rhythm and tempo we had in the midfield.”
Seattle outplayed UVU by beating them to lose balls and swarming any Wolverine offensive attack with double and triple teams. The Redhawks outshot the Wolverines throughout the course of the match by a total of 19 shots to six.
Saturday night’s match is expected to be a preview of the WAC Tournament Final coming up next week.
“I anticipate we’ll see Seattle in the final,” said Coach Maas. “Amongst our coaching staff, we knew that we needed to beat Seattle once, and that hopefully is going to be in the WAC Championship Final.”
The Wolverines begin preparation for the WAC Tournament, where they will play in the semifinals Friday, November 13 at 3:30 p.m. MT.
“That’s a dangerous team,” Fewing said. “They’re going to be a handful when we see them again in Kansas City.”
