Six-point Sunday: Utah Valley, Real Monarchs earn big wins in AFF doubleheader
Toke Amtrup, Lewis Knecht, Jordan Mangatal and Isaac Emojong each scored a goal as Utah Valley improved to 2-0 with a 4-0 win over Gonzaga at America First Field in Sandy.
SANDY, Utah (Aug. 24, 2025) — Kyle Beckerman’s former familiar confines brought good karma to Utah Valley men’s soccer Sunday afternoon.
Toke Amtrup, Lewis Knecht, Jordan Mangatal and Isaac Emojong each scored a goal as Utah Valley improved to 2-0 with a 4-0 win over Gonzaga at America First Field in Sandy.
Kolby Sessions made one save to preserve the shutout for the Wolverines, who improved to 2-0-0 for the first time since the COVID-impacted 2020 season (that was played in the spring of 2021).
The Wolverines out-shot the visiting Zags 5-1 in the first half, including the only two shots on goal from Nil Grau and Amtrup.
Utah Valley held Gonzaga without a shot until the 42nd minute, an off-target attempt by Alex Bazia. But the Bulldogs’ fourth-year goalkeeper Chema Preciado made two saves to keep the match scoreless at the break.
"Gonzaga gave us a tough fight tonight. The scoreline was what it was, but they made us earn it," said Beckerman, who is entering his fifth season as head coach. "I was just proud of the guys for sticking with it. We want to improve each game, and I thought we made some improvements tonight."
The Wolverines broke through 20 minutes after halftime, when Gilles Aurelien’s free kick connected with Amtrup for the Denmark native and Saint Mary’s transfer’s second goal of his collegiate career in the 67th minute.
Knecht opened his UVU account just three minutes later, when the reigning Gatorade Utah Player of the Year from American Fork finished a chance to double the advantage in the 70th minute.
Mangatal ripped a screamer of his own in the 77th minute, stretching the Wolverines’ lead to 3-0 with a top-bin laser from just outside of the penalty area.
Emojong nodded home Keegan Oyler’s ball in the 85th minute for his second goal of the season to cap the scoring.
“That’s zero goals against, eight goals for; the system is perfect,” Knecht said. “Even when we were 0-0 at half, we knew that if we trusted the system, we’d be able to get a few goals and get rolling.”
The Wolverines have a chance at the team’s first 3-0 start since 2018 Thursday when they host Florida Gulf Coast. Kickoff from UCCU Stadium in Orem is scheduled for 5 p.m. MT in a doubleheader with the women’s team.
But the Wolverines weren’t the only winners Sunday at America First Field.
Real Monarchs, the second-team affiliate of MLS side Real Salt Lake, picked up a crucial 3 points with a 3-2 win over Minnesota United FC 2 to keep pace in the MLS NEXT Pro playoff race out west.
Jesus Barea and Marcos Zambrano each converted a penalty kick for Monarchs (8-6-7, 35 points), which moved to fifth in the Western Conference thanks to Griffin Dillon’s screamer in the 35th minute and some late heroics by goalkeeper Will Mackay.
After Dillon gave the Monarchs a 3-1 lead before halftime, Britton Fischer pulled Minnesota within one with a rising header in the 63rd minute.
But the visitors could get no closer, despite several dodgy efforts, including Mackay making a diving save on opposing goalkeeper Alec Smir’s header in the box in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time.
“I don’t think you can teach that (grit), but you can demand it,” Real Monarchs coach Mark Lowry said. “You can highlight and make emphasis that you need to fight. That’s the constant message that we’re always giving them.
“It’s such an important part of the game, because the guys showed the grit where they easily could’ve given up.”