Game #14
Who | Utah Tech (2-8-3, 1-3-1 WAC) vs. UT Rio Grande Valley (3-6-2, 1-2-1 WAC)
When | Sunday, Oct. 20 - 1:30 p.m. (MT)
Where | Greater Zion Stadium - St. George, Utah
Social Media | Instagram + Twitter (X) + #UtahTechBlazers

LAST TIME OUT
The late-game heroics of junior Daichi Saito gave Utah Tech men's soccer its first WAC victory of the season 1-0 over Grand Canyon on Thursday night inside Greater Zion Stadium. From a goal kick in the 86th minute, junior Stockton Short played a long ball into the attacking third. The ball was headed into the box by UT's captain, redshirt junior Ethan Bell, to a running Saito where the native of Sagamihara City, Japan, struck the ball with his left foot past diving GCU goalkeeper Leon Schmidt into the back-right corner of the net. The game-winner was Saito's first career goal in a Trailblazer uniform. It took 30 minutes of play until junior Tyson Nguyen missed just high to record the first shot of the game. Short recorded his first save of the match in the 32nd minute stopping a shot to his left by sophomore Jorge Lopez. Freshman Elijah Dinkel challenged Schmidt down the middle in the 38th but was stopped. Short kept GCU off the board before the break with a tall save in the 43rd minute. Antelope junior Bright Nutornutsi had three of Grand Canyon's best chances, but he just missed right in the 56th minute and just left in the 62nd minute. In the 74th minute, his shot to the bottom right of the net was saved by Short. Both teams got off eight shots with the Antelopes holding a three to two advantage in shots on goal. GCU committed the bulk of the fouls, 19-7, with a staggering 13-2 discrepancy in the second half. Both teams were flagged for offsides on three occasions. Short tallied three saves compared to Schmidt's one. 

SCOUTING UT RIO GRANDE VALLEY
The Vaqueros visit Greater Zion Stadium after falling at UNLV 2-0 on Thursday night. UTRGV is 1-2-1 in WAC play, earning points in a win against Air Force (5-1) and a draw with Utah Valley (1-1). UT Rio Grande Valley has also logged wins over Lindenwood (3-1) and Texas A&M - San Antonio (5-0) this season. 

Offensively, UTRGV is led by junior Kgodiso Sukati whose four goals are tied for 10th in the WAC this season. Sophomore Jaime Carrillo orchestrates the Vaqueros' attack, totaling six assists this season to lead the conference and tie for 25th in the nation.

UT Rio Grande Valley leads the WAC in assists per game (1.55) and corner kicks per game (5.45). The Vaqueros are second in the conference in fouls per game (10.82), points per game (4.82), scoring offense (1.64), shot accuracy (.444) and shots on goal per game (5.00).

SERIES HISTORY
Sunday's match will be the fifth all-time meeting between UT and UTRGV. The Trailblazers hold a 2-1-1 advantage, winning last year's contest 1-0 in Edinburg, Texas. In St. George, the Vaqueros lead 1-0-0 after a 1-0 win in 2020.

UT BY THE NUMBERS
Utah Tech leads the WAC in saves per game (6.54), fouls per game (10.46), penalty kicks (1.000) and yellow cards (39). Nationally, Utah Tech comes in at second in saves per game (6.54), tied for sixth in yellow cards (39), tied for eighth in red cards (53), 25th in save percentage (.794) and 61st in fouls per game (10.46).

THEY CALL HIM 'STOP'-TON
Junior goalkeeper Stockton Short leads the nation in total saves (83) and is second in saves per game (6.38) behind Jamie Barry of Niagra (7.18). Short is also tied for 14th in goalie minutes played (1,170) and 31st in save percentage (.790).

Short is the reigning WAC Men's Soccer Goalkeeper of the Week after combining for 16 saves, a shutout and allowing one goal off a penalty kick in games at San José State and Seattle U last week. 

Short earned his first career assist on a goal kick, helping setup the game-winning goal against Grand Canyon.

BALANCED OFFENSE
Utah Tech has nine different goal-scorers, with 14 total Trailblazers earning at least one point this season and 17 Trailblazers putting at least one shot on goal. Sophomore Jason Buezo, senior Damian Arguello, sophomore Austin Wallace and redshirt junior Bryce Backlund have all notched at least 11 shots and four shots on goal this season. The Trailblazers are also a perfect 100% on penalty kick opportunities, tied for first in the nation, as sophomore Samir Cuevas and junior Oliver Stone scored from the penalty mark against UC Riverside and UC Irvine, respectively.

ASSIST ADEPT
Redshirt junior Bryce Backlund is tied for fourth in the WAC and 84th in the nation in total assists (4). Backlund also leads UT in points with six from one goal scored against UC Riverside and assists dished out against CSU Fullerton, then-No. 18 Portland, UC Irvine and California Baptist.

STAY CAUTIOUS
Utah Tech is tied for sixth in the nation in yellow cards (39) leading the WAC. Senior Damian Arguello sophomore Manu Monserrat and redshirt sophomore Harrison Shaw tie for 12th in the nation with five cautions apiece. 

CHASING HISTORY
Among Utah Tech's career records, junior Stockton Short is third in saves (164), third in minutes played (3,195), fourth in wins (11), fourth in shutouts (6) and fourth in goals against average (1.49). Short is also third on the single-season saves list with his 83 stops this year.

WHAT'S NEXT
Utah Tech will travel to face Air Force on Thursday, Oct. 24. First touch is slated for 6 p.m. and the game will be streamed on ESPN+.