OREM — After senior forward Faith Webber set a program-high five goals in a game against Southern Utah, Webber and the Wolverines welcomed another in-state rival in Utah Tech in hopes to secure the school's fourth straight WAC regular season championship.
Senior forward Ruby Hladek's 15th-minute goal ended up being the difference maker as the Wolverines inched closer to the WAC title in a 3-0 win over the Trailblazers.
"She's finishing better than she has in the past," head coach Chris Lemay said of his senior forward. "I think she's one of the best goal scorers in the country and one of the best overall players in the country."
The rest of the first half remained quiet, with Utah Valley leading in shots 9-3 while controlling the ball 52% of the half.
Utah Valley nearly got another on the board in the 65th minute with Mia Owens heading a ball off a corner kick but Trailblazer keeper Brianna Frey anticipated the shot and sent it away.
Webber had her opportunity to give the Wolverines insurance but the Trailblazer defense didn't give her enough space to let loose and sailed the ball over the net. It was Webber's 11th shot attempt of the game, and just third on target.
Finally, the lid came off and the Wolverines set up a nice open shot from Nixan Jackson to Hladek yet again who set it perfectly past Frey.
Hladek's second goal of the game — and 13th of the season and moved to sixth nationally in goals scored.
"I think I've focused a lot more on my finishing and just being more precise. Chris would tell me last year that I do all the work and not reward myself so I figured it was about time," Hladek said of her 13-goal season.
Webber though got hers with a nice header underneath Frey's arms and moved to third nationally in goals scored with 16.
Utah Valley has two games remaining, both on the road at Abilene Christian and Tarleton State, before the WAC Tournament that is played in Orem this year.
A Utah Valley win would clinch the No. 1 seed and would be Lemay's 100th of his career at Utah Valley.
