Men’s soccer: UVU ties UIW, clinches regular season title

Photo by Brigham Berthold

SAN ANTONIO—With the regular season conference title wrapped up before kickoff Saturday, the Utah Valley University men’s soccer team played to a 2-2 draw against the University of the Incarnate Word. The tie was the only match that took UVU into extra time all season.

The Wolverines (15-3-1, 8-1-1) fell in an early hole in the 12th minute as UIW’s Ben Conway found the net on a free kick just outside the penalty area. Conway registered a brace as he netted the Cardinals’ only other goal of the night on another free kick in the 55th minute.

Aaron Meyer put UVU on the board with a successful penalty kick in the 64th minute.

In the 79th minute, Aaron Caprio fired a shot on goal, but UIW goalkeeper Jorge Guzman sent it back. Paul Hoffmeister was waiting for the ricochet and sent the ball into the net to level the match at two.

Within five seconds of one another at the 84-minute mark, UIW’s Thomas Bibby and Darius Feldman sent shots at goalkeeper Elliott Rubio, but he sent back both attempts. Just 14 seconds later, UVU was awarded a corner kick. After the corner, Meyer fired on goal, but Guzman saved the strike. Only 57 seconds after Bibby’s initial shot, Ryan Osborne capped the action-packed minute with a yellow card.

Of UVU’s 20 shots on the night, the final try came off the boot of Thomas Loomis in the 100th minute. Loomis’ shot was blocked and the match went into double overtime. UVU was unable to put another shot attempt at the goal in the final frame.

Despite the tie, the Wolverines clinched the WAC regular season title by two points prior to kickoff, as Seattle University lost to Air Force 1-0 Saturday afternoon.

With a first-round bye and the top seed locked up, UVU will start play in the WAC tournament Friday, Nov. 11, at 6 p.m. at Clyde Field. UVU will take on the winner of Thursday’s match between UNLV and UT Rio Grande Valley.