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

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Thursday night was the first of several cuts. The players played some more 8v8 then ran some intense shuttles. You could tell who had ran them before because several of the current team paced themselves and excelled later rather than peaked early.

Let me at least tell you this: Kip Critchlow is fast.

Tomorrow morning’s tryout is bright and early at 6 a.m. Luckily I just show up at the end of it!

Listen to an audio interview with goal keeper, Bryan Black. He says some fun stuff about the competition in tryouts this year and the easier conditioning at the end of today’s tryouts.

Sophomore, Doug Clark looks to attack at tryouts this afternoon.

Goal Keeper, Bryan Black (in blue on the left) paces himself to make a Usain Bolt-like sprint to the finish.

Chris Watkins and the BYU coaching staff have the "fun" task of getting 99 participants trying out down to 21 (plus the incoming freshman already signed) by Saturday night.

Thursday afternoon's tryout was held on the RB Turf Field.