Junior forward, BJ Pugmire drops some of his writing skills on the blog with his weekly look at the different aspects of the BYU soccer program.

Most people who are six-foot-six and can jump have a tendency to play basketball or football. Bryan Black choose to dedicate himself to a different sport entirely: soccer.

Black is currently the starting goalkeeper for the Cougars and has proven essential on a number of different occasions. The most recent occasion coming against the U-21 Mexican national team.  Black made big save after save to keep the Cougars in the game, the first of which came 35 seconds into the match. Many argue that goalkeeper is the most important position on a soccer team, and BYU is fortunate to have Black filling that role.

He started playing at age six because his siblings played.

“It was kind of the family thing to do,” Black said. “I played because my brother and sister played. When I was 13 I realized I loved the sport so I decided to dedicate myself to it.”

At the age of 13 Black started playing goalie as well. With his size and athleticism he has all the qualities necessary to be a top notch keeper.

“I am very confident in Bryan’s abilities,” said Jantzen Romney a sophomore from Sandy. “From the plays he has made in games, in practices I know we can count on him.”

Black said he decided to play keeper because of the excitement that comes with the position.

“You can play the whole game and not see a lot of action but you have to make the play when it counts. There is a lot of pressure involved,” Black said.

Black was recruited to BYU by former assistant coach Brian Jolley who coached him in high school and was also a great goalie for BYU. Black said his experience at BYU as a whole has been wonderful, and he is very grateful to be a Cougar. He is studying communications and hopes to graduate within a year or so.

“Right now I am just enjoying my college experience playing at the Y,” Black said. “But if I had the opportunity I would love to play professionally as well.”

The Cougars are certainly pleased with Blacks progression as a player. Professional coaches have also taken an interest in his abilities. For a number of months throughout the past year, Black has been contacted by coaches at Real Salt Lake to help them in practices and at other times. With the experience Black has gained at BYU and RSL, it wouldn’t surprise anyone to see him reach the next level!Tweet

Junior forward, BJ Pugmire drops some of his writing skills on the blog with his weekly look at the different aspects of the BYU soccer program.

Last week I discussed how BYU provides opportunities for its players that no other university at the present can. Not only are the opportunities great at BYU, but also the facilities provided to the players are excellent.

In 2002, I had the opportunity to attend BYU soccer camp. At that time there was no Indoor Practice Facility, Haws Field definitely didn’t look like it does today, and the stadium at South Field was more just bleachers at South Field than a stadium.

Today players have the privilege of playing soccer year round in the IPF, which is large enough to accommodate the entire team and allow the players to play a full-sided scrimmage. The IPF is synthetic turf, which requires very little maintenance. Another point to note is that BYU plays almost half of its games on turf, making the IPF that much more valuable to the team to be able to practice and prepare for games in the best way possible. Haws field has always been a high quality-playing surface, but with the building of the IPF, Haws field has been designated for soccer use only. Only the men and women’s soccer teams at BYU have access to Haws year round and the grounds crew does a magnificent job maintaining the field. Providing the players the opportunity to practice on a field that is equivalent to the game field.

The gem of the BYU facilities in players and coach’s minds must be the stadium at South Field. Due to the considerable donations from BYU soccer alums and donors, we as a program were able to build the stadium at South Field. As mentioned before, in the past there were only bleachers for fans to sit on. In July of 2008, the new stadium was completed. The stadium has over 2,700 seats, with the “B”, “Y” and “U” sections having individual fold down seats to make the experience that much more enjoyable for the fans. Another upgrade that the new stadium provides is steeper seating making every seat in the stadium a great one. Lastly the scenery and setting at South Field are what truly make it one of the best college fields in the country. With the Rocky Mountains in the background and the field surrounded by trees, it provides an idyllic setting for a summer evening match.

BYU administration and contributors have worked tirelessly to provide student athletes all the necessary accommodations to succeed, and there are plans for even more improvements. The soccer program hopes by 2011 to have a media press box at South Field, with eventual locker rooms and a refreshment center in the near future. The facilities at BYU are just one more aspect that makes it a great place to be!Tweet

Junior forward, BJ Pugmire drops some of his writing skills on the blog with his weekly look at the different aspects of the BYU soccer program.

Many people know that BYU men’s soccer does not participate in the NCAA, and therefore cannot offer scholarships to players who decide to attend BYU. What BYU can provide is the opportunity to play against competition such as Coventry City, Cruz Azul, Saprisa, America and most recently the U-21 Mexican National team.

BJ Pugmire

Many players dream about the opportunity to represent their school and play for a national championship within the collegiate level.  Even fewer people hope to represent their school against world-class competition; BYU offers that to its players consistently. In the last five years, the BYU men’s soccer team has represented themselves and the University in Fiji, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Chile. Also within that same time period the Cougars have played host to Real Salt Lake various times, Coventry City who participates in the Championship League in England, the full Fijian national team, and the U-21 Mexican National team.  Not many institutions if any can offer the same history and opportunities that BYU provides their players.

Playing in the PDL gives the Cougars the freedom needed to travel abroad playing competition that would never be possible with the stipulations of the NCAA.  Furthermore, the competition within the PDL is equal if not superior in many instances to NCAA soccer.  Ventura County Fusion is the reigning PDL champion and will visit Provo July 10 to take on the Cougars.  Six players from the 2009 Fusion roster are now currently with MLS teams across the country.

As a young player myself growing up in Southern California it was difficult to watch as friends and teammates received scholarships and offers to play at the collegiate level, something I knew would never happen to me after committing to BYU.  But as I look back over my time in Provo, I realize that no other university in the country could have provided the memories or experiences that BYU has provided.  The highlight of those memories definitely still vivid in my mind as I look back to only three nights ago as we tied the U-21 Mexican National team.

Players looking for excellent competition along with opportunities not found at any other University in the country, BYU is the place for you.Tweet

BYU practiced on South Field today.  It was windy and cold today in Provo.  Isn’t it May?  Gee wiz.

Here’s a couple of videos with senior midfielder, Brent Jensen and junior forward, BJ Pugmire.

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Junior forward, BJ Pugmire drops some of his writing skills on the blog with his weekly look at the different aspects of the BYU soccer program.

Every member of the current BYU men’s soccer team has either fulfilled, or is planning on fulfilling a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. With that in mind, what impact does this have on the playing abilities of the players, as well as the chemistry of the team?

Having served a mission myself, I can say how taxing and draining a mission can be both emotionally and physically. I can also attest to the maturity and strength that comes after having been so dedicated and focused for two years.

As missionaries, BYU soccer players willingly put on hold school, dating, family, and of course soccer. These two years are dedicated to one thing and one thing only, “helping others come unto Christ.” Many players have served in foreign countries all over the world from India, Italy, Russia, Spain, Argentina and of course the United States, along with various other countries.

“I decided to go on a mission partly because of the example the players on the team have set for me,” said Matt Rider, a freshman who recently received his call to the Peru, Lima East mission. “I also know that I am giving up something good for something better.”

Someone from the outside looking in could wonder how or why these young men make this decision. For them it comes down to demonstrating what they believe to be their faith and commitment to Christ.

Obvious obstacles that returning missionaries face when trying to return to the team are becoming physically fit, adapting to the speed of the game, gaining confidence after such a long absence from the game, as well as regaining chemistry with new players.  Every player that serves a mission is guaranteed a spot on the team for at least a year after having returned.

Although players may return a little slower and out of sync, for the majority it returns within the first six months. Returning players say the mission doesn’t always have a negative affect as far as soccer goes.

“It took awhile to get back into it, but I feel like I am a much more mature player than I ever was before,” said sophomore Toni Niccoli, who retruned from Italy six months ago. “I actually feel like I am a better player now than I was before.”

For every player the affects of a mission are different. Some return saying they are better players as a result while others feel they never quite got back to where they were. After a rough start in the PDL, the team and players have adapted and found themselves successful in the highly competitive Premier Development League. Whether the team is better or worse as a result of missionary service is uncertain.  What is certain is that players will continue to leave soccer behind for two years to fulfill missions and upon returning work hard to improve the program.Tweet

Blake Tillotson and several members of the team will be at Franklin Elementary School (50 South 600 West in Provo) this Saturday from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. for a soccer clinic.  They’ll give away mini-soccer balls and tickets to the U-21 Mexican National Team game.  They expect 50 or more kids, ages 8-18 to attend.

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BJ Pugmire will be featured on “Nexos”, a television program on BYU TV International (Spanish) on June 26th at 3 p.m.  If you don’t get the channel, go to their website to watch online for free, live or on demand up to two weeks after the show.  The interview was all in Spanish and is a preview of the season for the team.Tweet

The Cougars continue to play spring pre-season exhibitions in preparation for the 2010 Premier Development League season. So far the Cougars are 2-0-1 with two wins at Mesa State (March 20) and a 0-0 tie at UNLV (March 27). Friday, April 9 BYU will host Dixie at the Stadium at South Field.

Come check out the Cougars almost a month to the day before the start of the 2010 PDL season (May 8 @ Orange County).

BJ Pugmire tweaked his knee at UNLV last Saturday but practiced strong yesterday so it sounds like he’s OK. BJ was highly recruited out of high school, had an outstanding two season in 2004 and 2005 with the team before serving a mission to Mexico. He’s been hampered by two ACL tears (one in each knee) and will be a key contributor up front, especially if BYU plays a 4-3-3 like they are experimenting with right now.

Mr. Pugmire also writes for the Daily Universe (BYU’s school newspaper). You can read a couple of his recent articles at these links.  Ironically he covers several of the extramural sports at BYU, one of which is men’s soccer but he’s in season with rugby and lacrosse.

Rugby suffers hard loss to in-state rival Utah (3/25)

Lacrosse team takes Trek to Canada (3/18)

BYU Rugby to Play Colorado (3/11)

The photo below is of BJ last summer performing tricks in Nicaragua to children in the streets. (Photo by Drew Van Wagenen)

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Jarom Jordan
Media Relations Director
jarom.jordan@byu.edu

PROVO, Utah (March 27, 2010) — BYU and UNLV played 90 minutes of pre-season soccer but neither came away with a goal to finish with a 0-0 tie in Las Vegas, Saturday.

“It was a valuable experience today. BJ Pugmire slightly hurt his knee and we played the entire 90 minutes without him. Overall, I think we found a few more answers for this season.”

Cougar goalkeepers, Bryan Black and Cory Cosgrave combined for the shutout. Windy weather conditions made connective play difficult as the Cougars and Rebels played. BYU will continue to practice and prepare for the Premier Development League season, beginning May 8 at Orange County.

BYU defeated NCAA Division II foe, Mesa State 3-0 and 1-0 last week in Grand Junction.

BYU head coach, Chris Watkins says the Cougars found more answers about the team, Saturday versus UNLV. (BYU Photo)