UCSD (0-4-2) hung around with the Wolverines (6-0) most of the night, with just one own goal allowed in the 51st minute, but two goals in the final 17 minutes allowed Utah Valley to pull away and get a much-needed cushion against a dangerous Triton side that gave the Wolverine defense some scares, especially in the first half.

With the win, Utah Valley officially secures the best start to a season in program history at 6-0, surpassing the previous best of 5-0 in 2015. The Wolverines also set the program record for longest stretch of consecutive shutouts with six, eclipsing the prior best stretch of five games, set by the 2016 WAC Championship team.

UCSD had the best scoring opportunities of the first half, with Kolby Sessions being forced into three tough saves in less than a minute’s time. The Tritons forced Sessions into a save in the 38th minute, which the sophomore shot-stopper sent behind for a corner. A scramble in front of the net on the ensuing corner resulted in Sessions making a quick double save and the Wolverine defense getting a head on a third weak shot to end the threat.

Sessions snuffed out another Triton counter in the 49th minute, making an impressive one-on-one save to prevent any further chances. The save would be Sessions’ sixth and final of the night.

The Wolverines got on the board in the 51st minute after Keegan Oyler’s low cross off a corner kick took a fortuitous bounce off the leg of a Triton defender and into the back of the net.

Montealegre doubled the lead in the 74th minute after earning a penalty with an impressive solo press and run into the UCSD box. The Spaniard stepped up to take the spot kick and sent the keeper diving the wrong way to double the UVU lead at 2-0.

Moments later, Dan McKay capped off the night with a volley following a scramble in front of the net. Gilles Aurelien lofted in a corner that was partially cleared just outside the six, but McKay was able to send a shot through traffic and find the back of the net.

Utah Valley returns home to UCCU Stadium on Saturday with another tough test against the Santa Clara Broncos. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. MDT.

Women’s soccer rallies for 4-3 win at Weber State

OGDEN– Utah Valley University overcame a pair of two-goal deficits to rally past Weber State, 4-3, on Monday night at Wildcat Soccer Field.

“The objective of the game is to score more goals than the other team, and we did that,” UVU head coach Chris Lemay said. “We dug ourselves a hole twice to go down by two on different occasions, and certainly could have quit–but we didn’t. Some players came in and made real positive impacts. I thought Bailey Peterson had an unbelievable game, Marie Quentel was a different class, and Quinn Rustand came in and impacted positively. It wasn’t the way we drew it up, but we’ll take the result.”

Weber State struck first in the 19th minute when a cross from the right side found the foot of Grace Kirby, who slotted it into the left side of the goal for a 1-0 lead. Just three minutes later, the Wildcats doubled their advantage as Tenzi Knowles scored from the middle of the box to make it 2-0.

The Wolverines answered immediately. Just 40 seconds after WSU’s second goal, Jacey Wood sent in a corner kick that found the head of Saide Beardall, who buried it to cut the deficit to 2-1.

Weber State extended its lead in the 59th minute as Kirby crossed into the box from the left side, where Sammie Sofonia finished to put the Wildcats in front, 3-1.

Utah Valley again clawed back, beginning with a 64th-minute strike from Quentel. After a battle near midfield, Ruby Hladek pushed the ball ahead to Quentel, who rifled a left-footed shot inside the right post to make it 3-2. Quentel then delivered the equalizer four minutes later, serving a corner kick into the box that Kate Shirts headed home to level the match at 3-3.

The Wolverines completed the comeback in the 81st minute. Faith Webber found Nixan Jackson on the right side of the box, and Jackson finished into the net for the game-winner.

Utah Valley outshot Weber State 19-14, including a 12-7 edge on goal. Beardall led the Wolverines with six shots, four on frame, while Webber added four attempts. Goalkeeper Leah Wolf played all 90 minutes and made four saves.

“Absolute credit to Kyle (Christensen) and Weber State,” he said. “They’re a much better team than they’ve been in the past, and it’s all because of him. We miss him (Christensen was on the UVU staff for 10 years) and wish him all the best for the rest of the season.”

Utah Valley (4-3-1) will now travel to Logan to wrap up nonconference play against Utah State (2-3-2) on Thursday. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. MT at Chuck and Gloria Bell Soccer Field, with the match streamed live on the Mountain West Network.