UVU suffers back-breaking 2-1 loss in OT at Michigan

Wolverine green against Wolverine blue was the scene on the pitch Sunday in Ann Arbor as Utah Valley University took on the University of Michigan. The two played to a hard fought 1-1 draw in regulation before UM scored early into overtime, winning 2-1.

UM got on the board first after a perfectly placed cross found the back of the net in the 28 minute, scored by sophomore midfielder Raleigh Loughman. The goal by Loughman equaled her total from all of the 2018 season.

UVU came out on the attack in the second-half, leading to Amber Tripp’s game-tying goal in the 53 minute. Tripp had a stellar two games in Michigan, scoring on Sunday and another against Michigan State Thursday. She also went over her total of one lone goal scored all of last season in the first two games of this season.

After two halves of play, the game stayed knotted at 1-1 and headed to overtime. The overtime period was short lived, though, as UM’s Sarah Stratigakis split through the defense and put the ball into the back of the net three minutes into the period.

UVU ended this road trip going 0-2 against major conference teams, but showed aggressiveness and fight on both sides of the ball. Two players for UVU received yellow cards in the second-half of Sunday’s match — an example that their fight and competitiveness never wavered.

Utah Valley will now come home to host Cal Poly University for the first game at Clyde Field for the 2019 season on Friday, Aug. 30 at 5 p.m. MST. UVU defeated Cal Poly early last season in California by a score of 3-2.

Photo courtesy of Rey Del Rio