BYU and Utah Valley to meet in MCLA Division I championship game

ROUND ROCK, Texas — Utah Valley rookie midfielder No. 14 Carter Budge grabbed a rebound and slammed a shot into the back of the net with 2:58 left in the first overtime to cap a most improbable comeback against the no. No. 7 UC Santa Barbara in a Division I semifinal on Thursday at the 2024 MCLA National Championships presented by New Balance.

Trailing 12-10 by UC Santa Barbara (12-3) with less than two minutes remaining and facing a man-down penalty, Utah Valley (10-6) managed to buy time and put together a play for burly midfielder Nathan Huntsman, and the senior delivered with rip from the front to get UVU within one.

The Wolverines won the ensuing faceoff and called a timeout, setting up a play for Jackson Rehrer. The forward swept the top and was left alone for a shot that knotted the game with just 14 seconds remaining. A desperation shot from UVU set up overtime and Budge’s game-winner.

The start of the match was promising for the Gauchos, who scored the first three goals of the competition. Utah Valley finally caught up midway through the second quarter, tying the game at five. The next quarter would be a series of two-goal runs by UCSB that were answered by the Wolverines, sending the teams heading into the final quarter tied at nine.

UVU took its first lead of the game 50 seconds into the game on the second of Rehrer’s three goals on the day. The Gauchos responded less than a minute later, then regained their two-goal lead when Colin McGrath scored with 2:23 remaining.

Then it was time for the Wolverines’ magic act.

Rehrer’s four-point afternoon led UVU and Max Sturgill was solid in net with 14 saves.

Lucas Menendez led the Gauchos with four goals and an assist while UCSB goalkeeper Zane Schwab was outstanding, stopping 17 shots.

Utah Valley advances to the championship game Saturday at 11:30 a.m. against RMLC rival Brigham Young at the Round Rock Multipurpose Complex.

This will be the third meeting between the two schools in the last three weeks. BYU won the regular season contest, 12-10, before winning the conference tournament semifinals, 12-9.