Utah Valley University is set to kick off the 2025 WAC Men’s Soccer Tournament on Sunday as the No. 6 seed, taking on the No. 3 seed Grand Canyon Lopes. The match is to be held at Lancer Soccer Field on the campus of California Baptist in Riverside, with a start time of 5 p.m. MT. Fans can catch the action live on ESPN+, and live statistics will be available at GoUVU.com/stats.
The Wolverines secured their spot in the tournament by clinching a dramatic 2-2 draw against Utah Tech on Halloween. This result, combined with Grand Canyon’s victory over UNLV, enabled Utah Valley to qualify for their seventh consecutive WAC Tournament during a full season.
In their most recent outing against Utah Tech, Utah Valley seemed to be in control with a 2-0 lead, but the Blazers mounted a comeback, resulting in a hard-fought draw. The Wolverines have shown resilience this season, scoring first in all but two of their matches while boasting a stellar offensive track record.
Key player Isaac Emojong continues to shine, netting his sixth goal against Utah Tech, becoming the third underclassman in program history to achieve this milestone. He is on track to break Matt Gay’s record of seven goals for a freshman if he finds the net twice more. Meanwhile, Noah Pogue made history with the fastest goal of the season, scoring just three minutes into the match.
Utah Valley’s goalkeeper, Kolby Sessions, has returned to the lineup after a four-game absence due to injury. In his ten starts this season, Sessions has achieved six shutouts and has helped the Wolverines maintain the best goals-against average in the WAC at just 0.7 per game.
Heading into the tournament, Utah Valley boasts the top offense in the conference, ranking 14th nationally in goals per game and 21st in assists. Keegan Oyler leads the WAC with eight assists this season but has not registered one in his last four matches after transitioning to a center-back position.
In the two teams’ previous meeting this season, Grand Canyon triumphed 3-1 at home, a challenging defeat for Utah Valley. The Wolverines are winless in their last five encounters against the Lopes and have not won in regulation since 2016. Historically, Utah Valley trails in the series with a record of 4-7-1 against GCU.
The Lopes are coming into this match strong, with standout freshman Junior Diouf leading the WAC in goals, boasting 14 this season, and earning both WAC Freshman and Offensive Player of the Year honors. GCU has also established itself as the best defensive team in the conference.
Utah Valley is aiming for a breakthrough in the WAC Tournament. While they have not advanced past the first round since 2019, they continue to strive for success under head coach Kyle Beckerman. In a positive note, the Wolverines have consistently qualified for the tournament over the years, showcasing their competitive spirit.
In addition to their tournament preparations, Utah Valley players have earned recognition on the All-WAC teams. Emojong, Gilles Aurelien, and Keegan Oyler were named to the second team, while Lewis Knecht secured a place on the WAC All-Freshman team, highlighting the team’s talent.
Should they secure a victory on Sunday, the Wolverines would advance to the semifinals on Wednesday, facing off against the Utah Tech Trailblazers. That match is also set for 5 p.m. MT/4 p.m. PT and will be available for streaming on ESPN+. With a deep roster and ignited passion, Utah Valley eyes a successful tournament run ahead.