The win means Utah Valley has started 4-0 for just the second time in program history, joining the 2015 squad that made the NCAA Tournament via an at-large bid. It is also the second season in a row and third time in Kyle Beckerman’s five seasons that the team has started the season unbeaten through four games.

The clean sheet prolongs the longest shutout stretch to begin a season to four games, and is now one away from tying the longest streak at any point in program history. Dating back to last season, Utah Valley has allowed just one open-play goal over its last nine games.

With his goal, Knecht has made it three straight games with a goal and four straight games with a goal contribution. Knecht tied a pair of program freshman records in the process, matching Emojong’s record streak of games with a goal contribution to start a collegiate career and equalling Mark Andros’ record for most consecutive games with a goal by a freshman at any point during a season.

Both squads had to battle through less than ideal conditions all afternoon, as heavy rain came down throughout most of the game.

The Wolverines dominated the offensive pressure the vast majority of the game, and that pressure finally reached a breaking point about 10 minutes into the second half. Emojong finally found paydirt in the 59th minute after Trevor Walk and Mason Abdella won the ball back in the penalty area and teed Emojong up at the top of the box, who unleashed a rocket into the top-left corner of the net.

Aurelien saw Emojong’s strike and did him one better in the 70th minute, ripping off a vicious strike from about 30 yards out into the top right corner of the net.

Another VAR review went the Wolverines’ way in the 83rd minute as the center official pulled the game back to retroactively award a penalty on a poor challenge against Keegan Oyler. Knecht stepped up to the spot and buried the penalty to make it three straight games with a goal for the freshman.

Utah Valley (4-0-0) returns home on Thursday to face another future conference foe in the Sacramento State Hornets. Kickoff is slated for 5 p.m. MDT, and tickets can be purchased at GoUVU.com/MSOCtix. Tickets for the men’s game will also be honored for the women’s soccer game against LSU immediately after.

Women’s volleyball drops another five-setter

Boise State University defeated Utah Valley 3-2 (20-25, 25-18, 25-14, 22-25, 15-13) on Saturday afternoon inside the UCCU Center in the Wolverines third match at the Utah Valley Invitational.

UVU (1-2) was led by senior Avery Page, who finished with a match-high 17 kills and earned All-Tournament honors. Boise State (3-0) outhit the Wolverines .195 to .145 to finish 3-0 in the tournament.

In the fifth and deciding set, the Wolverines opened strong with a service ace by Natalie Riggs, immediately setting the tone at 1-0. The Broncos fought back and hit almost .300 as a team in the final set, with middle blocker Layla Smith recording six kills to lead the offensive charge for Boise State. The combination of Page and Sammi Blackett came up with five of the seven kills in the final frame, but it was not enough as Boise State came out on top 15-13.

The Broncos’ Eliza Sharp was named the Invitational MVP with Page, Alexis Batezel (Montana), Ava Toppin (Navy), Arleigh Hanson (Navy), Kailyn Jager (Boise State) and Bre Mitchell (Boise State) selected to the all-tournament team.

Utah Valley will travel to the Hawaiian Islands for the Outrigger Invitational hosted by Hawai’i. They will play three matches beginning on Wednesday, Sept. 3, against another MWC foe, San Jose State. The tournament will wrap up with a match on Thursday (Sept. 4) against St. John’s and Friday (Sept. 5) against the host Hawai’i.

UVU cross country claims both team titles, Nokes wins women’s race

Morgan Nokes won the individual title as both the Utah Valley men’s and women’s cross country teams took home the team championships at the UVU Invitational on Friday morning at Scera Park.

In her first race post-pregnancy, Nokes ran a blistering 16:30.10 to take first by nearly 40 seconds over fellow Wolverine Ari Trimble, who took second with a time of 17:09.98. Paisley Taylor (6th, 17:25.48) and Artana Nice (10th, 17:42.05) rounded out the top 10 after putting up solid performances in their first races at the Division I level. On the women’s side, Utah Valley took first with a score of 30, followed by Utah with 42, SUU with 90, and Oregon with 100.

Wyatt Mortenson paced the men for a 2nd place overall finish as the top collegiate runner in the race with a time of 14:19.39. The Wolverines took nine of the top 10 spots among attached runners, with Alex Hartshorn (14:35.67), Cameron Jacobs (14:43.12), and Trey Despain (14:45.19) rounding out the top five. The men took first with a score of 19, followed by SUU with 54 and CSI with 82.

Former Wolverine Mo Guled was the top overall finisher on the men’s side, running a time of 14:13.37 unattached.

Utah Valley stays in Orem for its next meet this coming Friday with the BYU Autumn Classic at Lakeside Park. The women’s race will begin at 9 a.m. MDT, with the men’s race following shortly after at 9:45. Live results will be available at SportTrax.com.