College soccer roundup: Western Michigan spoils Beckerman's RioT return with UVU
Plus, Utah Tech earned its first win of the season, 2-1 at Saint Mary's, and Utah Valley women's soccer routed Idaho State 6-0 in a border clash in Pocatello.
Utah Valley third-year coach Kyle Beckerman’s return to the home where he earned legend status for Real Salt Lake ended unhappily Sunday afternoon.
Carson Hodgson scored twice, and Charlie Sharp added a goal and an assist as Western Michigan handed the Wolverines their first loss of the season, 3-1, at America First Field in Sandy.
Michele Signorelli scored the lone goal for Utah Valley (1-1).
It was the second match of the season for UVU, and the last one at “home” before a four-match road swing that will take the Wolverines to Oregon State (RV), Portland, UC Santa Barbara and Cal Poly before returning to Orem to host Pacific on Sept. 16.
The defending MAC champions who advanced to the Round of 16 of the NCAA Tournament a year ago wasted little time taking the early lead. Hodgson headed home a ball into the box from Jonathan Robinson that gave the Broncos a 1-0 advantage in the ninth minute.
Western Michigan suffocated Utah Valley in the first half, holding the Wolverines without a shot until the 40th minute and without a shot on goal before the break.
Signorelli equalized for UVU in the powering home a shot off his left foot in the 50th minute to equalize for the Wolverines.
But Sharp responded brilliantly to put the Broncos back in front, slotting home a right-footed rip through traffic to give Western the 2-1 edge in the 54th minute.
Utah Valley ended the match down a man after Omar Yehya, who had a goal and an assist in the Wolverines’ 4-0 win over Kansas City in the season opener, was ejected with a red card for violent conduct in the 70th minute.
Hodgson finished off the scoring with his second goal of the match, finishing off a cross from Sharp in the 87th minute to lift the Broncos to the 3-1 win.
Utah Tech 2, Saint Mary’s 1
Jimi Villasenor scored the match-winner in the 34th minute, and goalkeeper Stockton Short made two saves to make it stand up as the Trailblazers rallied for their first win of the year Sunday at Saint Mary’s Stadium in Moraga, California.
The Gaels (1-1) needed just 65 seconds to open the scoring, when Riley Lynch chipped pass from near the goal line that found Wade Muttitt for the 1-0 advantage.
But Utah Tech (1-1) responded, first benefitting from an own goal on a failed clearance in the 23rd minute to equalize.
Villasenor then did the rest, taking the ball off a Saint Mary’s defender on the left side of the box and smashing his shot off the goalkeeper’s fingertips for a goal that proved to be the winner 12 minutes later.
Utah Tech travels to Sacramento, California, and St. Charls, Missouri, next week before returning home to host Cal State Bakersfield at Greater Zion Stadium in St. George in the regular-season home opener Thursday, Sept. 14 at 7 p.m.
Women’s soccer
Utah Valley 6, Idaho State
Faith Webber had a brace as the Wolverines picked up their first clean sheet of the season in a 6-0 road shutout on the road Sunday at Davis Field in Pocatello, Idaho.
After Webber opened the scoring in the 13th minute, Jenna Shepherd Gremillion, Sydney Bushman, Sadie Beardall and Haley Richardson each added a goal for the Utah Valley (2-1-1).
"It was a collective effort and a shared workload today," Utah Valley coach Chris Lemay said. "We picked up our first shutout of the year and checked that box. A handful of our players also played their first-ever collegiate minutes and Sadie Beardall scored her first college goal. Those are the things we celebrated today. Now, it's time to get back to work and prepare for a very good Utah team on Wednesday. It's a game we've looked forward to for a long time."
The Wolverines travel up I-15 to face in-state foe Utah at 6 p.m. MT Wednesday on the Pac-12 Network before hosting No. 11 BYU on Saturday.
Utah Tech 2, Nevada 1
Lacy Fox found the match-winner in the 80th minute to help the Trailblazers sneak by Nevada, 2-1, Sunday at Greater Zion Stadium in St. George.
Nevada (0-2-2) struck first through Luz Arreaga in the 16th minute, giving the Wolfpack a 1-0 lead that would stand through halftime.
But Emily Garbett equalized in the 51st minute for Utah Tech (2-1-1), setting the stage for Fox’s dramatic match-winner from McKinley Barney and Brynlee Rider.
Washington State 3, Weber State 1
Margie Detrizio, Rajanah Reed and Naomi Clark all scored a goal as the Cougars took down Weber State, 3-1 in Pullman, Washington.
Grace Kirby scored the lone goal of the match for the Wildcats (0-4), who return home to host UNLV at 1 p.m. MT Aug. 31.
Clemson 1, Utah 0
Makenna Morris scored off a putback block from Sam Meredith to keep No. 19 Clemson unbeaten at 3-0-1 with a 1-0 win over Utah on Sunday afternoon at Ute Soccer Field in Salt Lake City.
Kasey Wardle made three saves in goal for the Utes (2-1-1).
Texas Tech 3, Utah State 0
Ashleigh Williams tallied a first-half brace as the Red Raiders handed the Aggies their first road loss of the season Sunday afternoon at John Walker Soccer Complex in Lubbock, Texas.
Gisselle Kozarski added a goal in the 62nd minute for Texas Tech.
Utah State is back home next Friday and Sunday, when it will host South Dakota State and South Dakota, respectively, at Chuck and Gloria Bell Field in Logan.
And finally …
Here’s a stat about former local college star Ashley Hatch after the former BYU forward scored an equalizing penalty kick in the Washington Spirit’s 1-1 draw with the Portland Thorns, courtesy of Opta.
