We made it to Spring! That means, post-practice on a sunny day you’ll be able to see shirtless Sterling Hancock and Dallin Cutler knocking the ball around (ladies, that’s about 10am, Monday through Friday).

The perfect weather almost makes the team trip to Costa Rica May 4-14 a bit bittersweet… okay, not at all, it’s just sweet. The team trip will take us around the country to visit beaches, eat great food, explore jungles and volcanoes, freshen up on Spanish pick-up lines and, oh yeah, play soccer. On the ten day trip we’ll play some of the top professional teams in Costa Rica, including the powerhouse Saprissa, but our international trips are usually remembered for strengthening team bonding through gypsy curses and trickery(Chile) and Jon Junca’s girlish screams of terror with frog encounters(Fiji AND Puerto Rico). I’m sure there will be some more frogs “hopping” into Jon’s bag in Costa Rica. Pictures will be sure to follow, we’ll even try and post some videos on our Facebook page.

Before we leave, though, we need everyone to send us off by attending our final game before we get back. THIS Saturday, April 28, we’ll be playing Mesa State, from Colorado at South Field at 7pm. Mesa State is a scholarship NCAA program and it should be a good game.

After we get back from Costa Rica, we’re all looking forward to our chance to go head-to-head with the former MLS Champion and CONCACAF Champions League finalist Real Salt Lake on May 19 at South Field. This is an incredible opportunity for players and fans. After a two-year break since the last game between our two clubs, we’ll be looking for some long-awaited revenge for the 3-1 loss Real gave us during their last visit.Tweet

Happy finals week BYU students, it’s always darkest before grades are posted.

It looks like it’s been a long time since we’ve had a blog post out for your reading enjoyment, so I’ll give a little update for the last week or two.

We are loaded with injuries lately, with Sterling Hancock, David Gates, John Junca, Jantzen Romney, Garrett Losee, and of course Toni Niccoli, unable to practice (am I missing anyone?). Luckily, we have the expertise of Deniece Oates and our new student trainer, so we ought to have a full team by the middle of the season.

Last Saturday, the team took a trip to Camp Williams Army Garrison to do the “Leadership Reaction Course” and some rappelling. I’ll be brief on this because I know “a picture is worth a thousand words” and we have some good pictures on our Facebook page ‘BYU Men’s Soccer.’

Last night was the “Blue and White” game, which was subsidized by some of our excellent former players including, Matt Kimball, Kyle Petit, Lance Smith, McKay Corbett, Cory Cosgrave, Blake Tillotson(who scored), and of course Garrett Gee, who repeatedly made me look like a fool with his lightning quickness. White won the game 5-1.

Well, the team is off for finals week and we’ll be practicing again on Friday. As it is finals week, we ask you all to keep the eligibility of Garrett Losee and Bryson Pope in your prayers. You can do it guys, I know you can.Tweet

We have another Noob this week, Romy Lakip. Like Josh, he isn’t really new, because he was with us in the fall, and it seems like I’ve known him for an eternity because he’s my roommate. As a soccer player, Romy is like a fine Chevre, mature, smooth, a great finishing touch and acidic on defense. Chevre is goat cheese, and – like Romy – it’s delicious. For those of you who don’t speak metaphor or don’t like cheese, Romy is the perfect center-mid. He can hold the ball as long as is necessary and place it, made to order, anywhere you want, with either foot, including in the back of the net.

As a roommate, Romy is the “nice guy.” I can’t tell you how often I hear that from the people in our ward. “Mike Moreno is so good-looking,” “Garrett is so funny,” “Jace is so tall,” “Colby Borrowed a movie from us!” but mostly, “Romy is so nice.” I’m still trying to figure out what they mean by that, but it’s better than what they say about me.

Romy is great. If you want a better description of him, think of combining Antonio Banderas with Mark Whalberg and George Clooney(seriously).

In other team news, most of the men’s team participated in the co-ed IPF tournament Saturday. I left early to write this, mostly because we lost to the “staff” in the semi-final and I wasn’t about to risk staying in case they won it all and I’d have to report on that here. Nobody likes giving Coach a chance to gloat.

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I’d like to introduce you to one of our “new players” this season, Josh Patino. I am completely aware that for 90% of the BYU student population, this introduction is superfluous (Josh has over 1,500 facebook friends). Josh played for the team two seasons ago, but this past summer became a thorn in our side when he joined the much-hated Ogden Outlaws, we’re glad to have him back. Josh is, as I mentioned, incredibly outgoing. I feel sorry for his fiance, Heather, because I know she won’t be able to take him anywhere without being stopped by everyone he passes, good luck at the reception line, Heather, wear comfortable shoes. My personal experience with Josh started when I came home from my mission and we started playing together. On the field, Josh is positive, collected and hard working. He is easily the oldest player on the team.

This morning, Josh showed his athletic prowess during our team snowshoeing activity in Aspen Grove when he went two rounds and nearly beat Mike Moreno in a wrestling match. Other epic battles included a Bindrup-Harrison throwdown and a contest of big men Bryson Pope and goalkeeper Brian Hale. Other semi-violent events included ruthless snowball fighting and a no-holds barred snowshoe race, which I won while the rest of the team was busy either tackling contenders or being tackled. For video coverage of the wrestling, check out our Facebook page.Tweet