OREM, Utah — You only get one chance to make a first impression, and Utah Valley men’s soccer made good use of the Wolverines’ introduction to the Big West Conference.
Oliver Watts scored the first goal of his collegiate career, and Adem Arous added a second as Utah Valley continued its unbeaten start to the season with a 2-0 win over UC Irvine to open Big West play Wednesday night at UCCU Stadium.
With the win, the Wolverines (5-0-2, 1-0-0 Big West) became the only Division I men’s soccer team in the country to finish September with an unbeaten record in back-to-back seasons.
Perhaps most importantly, Utah Valley — like the women’s soccer team before it — opened Big West play play with a win, and a chance to show a new conference what they mean.
“We actually talked about that: We said you only get one chance to make history, and no one can take it from you,” UVU first-year head coach Michael Chesler said. “And they did it.
“I’m so proud of them. They executed everything we asked them to, tried something a little different tactically, and they did it work.”
Utah Valley out-shot the Anteaters 8-1 in the first half, but Scott Williams made the only save of the first half en route to a 0-0 halftime stalemate.
But Watts converted his first goal of the season, taking a pass from Luca Wingaa Larsen off a midfield turnover in the 55th minute to open the scoring in the Wolverines’ favor.
Arous doubled the advantage in the 70th minute, putting back a loose ball from Nil Grau into the box to push the lead to 2-0 against the Anteaters, the defending Big West co-champions who opened the season with a 4-4-1 nonconference record that included wins over Loyola Marymount, Pacific, UC Riverside and UC San Diego.
But Utah Valley was the hunted team, ranked No. 24 nationally by College Soccer News and one of seven unbeaten teams in the country.
“Even before, everyone knew who we were. We’re undefeated,” said Watts, the freshman from Frederiksberg, Denmark. “But tonight was an amazing night — and we showed the Big West who we are.”
A bit over 600 miles away, the Wolverines’ women’s soccer team was also staying unbeaten in Big West play with a win over the Anteaters.
Sadie Beardall recorded her second brace in the last three matches as Utah Valley improved to 2-0-1 in Big West play with a 3-1 road win over UC Irvine at Anteater Stadium.
Nixan Jackson, the senior from Maple Mountain High, added a goal for the Wolverines to improve to 6-4-2 after an 0-2-1 start to the season.
Beardall has been as key as anyone to the club’s recent run of form. The senior out of Bonneville High (who could also have a fifth year available next season) has scored five of her six goals in the last three matches, in addition to an assist in the Wolverines’ 7-1 romp over CSU Bakersfield to lift the lid on their first season in the conference.
Utah Valley returns home Saturday night to host CSU Fullerton at 6 p.m. MT at UCCU Stadium, while the men’s team hits the road for a pair of road matches at UC Santa Barbara and Cal State Fullerton.
