Utah college soccer: Wolverines open Beckerman's 5th season, new stadium with shutout win
Four different Wolverines found the back of the net as Utah Valley rolled to a 4-0 win over Cal State Bakersfield in Thursday night’s season opener at UCCU Stadium in Orem.
By: UVU Sports Information and Staff reports
Nil Grau had a goal and an assist in his NCAA Division I competitive debut, and four different Wolverines found the back of the net as Utah Valley rolled to a 4-0 win over Cal State Bakersfield in Thursday night’s season opener at UCCU Stadium in Orem.
Noah Pogue opened the scoring in the 27th minute, finishing a corner kick from Nil Grau with a kick inside the far post for the 1-0 advantage.
The former redshirt junior from Corner Canyon scored the first goal in the newly renovated UCCU Stadium for the men’s team, which christened the $28.5 million renovation in Thursay’s season opener three days after the women’s team opened the new digs with ad 2-0 win over Utah.
Grau, the Spanish international who played two seasons at Peninsula College, doubled the advantage 10 minutes later, side-footing a shot from Gilles Aurelien to stretch the lead to 2-0 in 37th minute.
“He’s something great,” Pogue said of Grau. “He’s just going to go hard every time, and you pray that he passes the ball to you. But you see what he can do on a turn, nutmegging the goalkeeper.
“He’s super fun to play with, and he makes your job so much easier.”
The Wolverines out-shot Bakersfield 9-0 in the first half, and held the Roadrunners without a shot until the 60th minute.
But Isaac Emojong stretched the lead to 3-0 with a left-footed shot in the 80th minute to give Utah Valley the comfortable lead.
Alex Fritcher finished off the scoring in the 87th minute, a one-touch shot from Sharif Sayawu via true freshman Lewis Knecht to cap the 4-0 win.
The win extends Utah Valley's home opener streak to 12 straight, maintaining a perfect record in home openers in program history at 11-0-1.
The Wolverines make the short drive north on I-15 Sunday to host Gonzaga at America First Field in a doubleheader with Real Monarchs. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. MT, with free admission and a limited edition Kyle Beckerman bobblehead for the first 200 fans.
Trailblazers rally to tie Gonzaga, 1-1
Tanner Dutra headed home a goal in the 66th minute as a shorthanded Utah Tech opened the season with a 1-1 draw with Gonzaga at Greater Zion Stadium.
After Dutra was called for a handball in the penalty box that led to Gonzaga’s Alez Bazia converting from the penalty spot for the opening goal, the redshirt sophomore defender made up for it a minute later, finishing Colby Lee’s free kick to help Utah Tech snap a three-year losing skid in season openers.
The Trailblazers hit the road Sunday to face Sacramento State at Hornet Field in Sacramento, California. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. MT on ESPN+.