Wolverines strike back with three unanswered goals
Brad Curnow | Sports Writer | @jojocornrow
Photos courtesy of @BrookeMorrill
PHOENIX, Ariz. – After finding themselves in an early 2-0 hole to Grand Canyon University, the Utah Valley University men’s soccer team scored three goals before halftime to secure a 3-2 win Friday night Western Athletic Conference soccer action.
Connor Salmon’s first goal of the season came in the 22nd minute. It energized UVU and marked the beginning of a strong finish to the first half. Salmon played the ball off his head and into the goal before GCU goalkeeper Kendyl Day could get to the near post and make a stop.
Six minutes after Salmon put the Wolverines on the board, Skyler Milne elevated above a scrum at the mouth of the goal and put an Aaron Meyer corner kick into the back of the net to set the match level at 2-2.
Paul Hoffmeister then put the Wolverines ahead for the remainder of the match with his fifth goal of the season on a shot to the right upper corner of the goal from the top of the box.
The Wolverines would ride their defense to victory the rest of the way. Grand Canyon came out in the second half with an aggressive attack in an effort to equalize, but Utah Valley sent every attempt at the goal back out of the box.
The Antelopes put the first score on the board in the 6th minute of play on a curving free kick over a UVU wall to the left upper 90 by Alberto Sanchez Garcia. GCU put up another point in the 14th minute after a penalty kick by Niki Jackson.
With the win, Utah Valley improves to 12-3-1 overall on the season and 5-1-1 in WAC play. The Wolverines travel to Las Vegas, NV next to take on the UNLV Rebels on Sunday at 2 p.m. MT.
