BYU came up short on the road, Friday night. ( Daily Universe)

Jarom Jordan

Box Score

LOS ANGELES, California (June 17, 2011) — In the first ever meeting between the LA Blues 23 and the BYU Cougars, the Blues (3-5-2) beat the Cougars (6-5-2 overall, 1-5-2 PDL) 3-2 on Friday night. BYU now prepares for the Southern California Seahorses Saturday night in La Mirada, California.

“We felt really good about the way we attacked at the start of the game,” said BYU head coach, Chris Watkins. “Getting a couple of goals was good for us.”

The Cougars jumped out to to a 2-0 lead after just 25 minutes. The quickest goal of the 2011 season came in the first minute when Toni Niccoli dribbled down to the end line, sent in a cross inside the box and BJ Pugmire scored his team leading, third goal of the year for a 1-0 lead. In the 25th minute BJ Pugmire assisted Garrett Losee for his first ever PDL goal as a Cougar. However that lead wouldn’t last.

The Blues scored three unanswered goals in the 35th, 48th, and 70th minutes off scrambles following free kicks from outside the penalty area. It was the third win of the season and second in a row for LA.

“We were disappointed and frustrated to work so hard and not get a result,” said Watkins.

BYU will play the Southern California Seahorses tomorrow night which is the second meeting in eight days. Last Saturday in Provo, Southern California won 3-1.

POSTGAME NOTES
MULTIPLIES OF TWO
Two goals in one game is the first time the Cougars have scored multiple goals in a game this season

“GO”AL AWAY
BYU gave up a total of seven goals in the first three games, recorded two consecutive shutouts, and has given up eight goals in the last three games.

THREE IS THE LEAD
Senior, BJ Pugmire now has three goals this season, which is the most on the team. The first two came on penalty kicks.

PART TWO
BYU and the LA Blues 23 will meet in Provo on July 21 in the PDL season finale and final home game for the Cougars. LA Blues 23 competes as a professional team for the first time this year, operating as a reserve squad for the Los Angeles Blues of USL PRO.

HALFWAY THERE
Friday nights game was the eighth game of the season. That is exactly the halfway point of the 16-game, 2011 Premier Development League season. Tomorrow night BYU begins the second half of the season against Southern California.

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Jarom Jordan

Box Score

PROVO, Utah (June 10, 2011) — In a wide open, fast paced Friday night game the Orange County Blue Star hung on to beat the BYU Cougars, 2-1. The Blue Star are now 9-0-4 all-time against the Cougars.

“We were better tonight than we were a few weeks ago,” said head coach, Chris Watkins. “Overall we weren’t effective. We’re disappointed. We need to come out with points at home against even a great team.”

The Cougars are now 0-2-1 at home this season and will host the Southern California Seahorses tomorrow night at 8 p.m. MT on BYUtv and online at www.byutv.org/live.

In the 10th minute the leading point man in the PDL (8 goals, 3 assists, 19 points), Chandler Hoffman put Orange County on the board by creating an own goal. His left footed shot hit the right post then ricocheted off defender, Ethan Meyer in the net for the first goal of the game.

BYU nearly tied it up in the 23rd minute when midfielder, Jantzen Romney gathered a thru-ball and chipped it at goal but keeper, Sam Chappell saved two quick shots.

Dawning a new formation the Cougars featured returned missionary of five weeks, David Gates (Oregon State transfer) up top and he delivered in his first game in a BYU uniform. Getting the start, it took just 28 minutes for Gates to get his name in the records books as BJ Pugmire found him on a vertical ball which he gathered and put away for the equalizer.

“I think David played well,” said Watkins. “Toni did a nice job. We just have to be more effective. Goal scorers are born and not really made. We need to refine.”

In the second half BYU dominated possession but Orange County struck back on a counter attack in the 74th minute from a great cross by David Ponce to Fernando Monge who headed it into the near post corner for the 2-1 lead.

Four minutes later in the 78th minute BYU forward, Garrett Losee attacked goal and bounced a ball up that was called for a handball but the TV broadcast replay showed it wasn’t. Toni Niccoli put away a goal from that pass but it was negated.

BYU made desperate attempts in the final 12+ minutes to score another equalizer but came up short.

The Cougars outshot the Blue Star 12-7, and recorded nine corner kicks to the Orange County’s three.

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BYU Assistant Coach, Clay Christenson gives his thoughts about the team “From the Box”.

After a week of well-deserved rest, it’s back to work in preparation for the biggest weekend of the season. With two games and six points on the line, the team will need to be focused on doing whatever it takes to get those points. Even players that don’t get many minutes play a vital role in the team’s preparation. A constant theme during training sessions is ‘to compete.’ We want every player competing for every ball in every situation, no exception.

Every player is anxious to prove themselves, right now there are even a few starting positions that are up for grabs so this week should be highly competitive as we prepare for Friday night. Go Cougs!Tweet

Jarom Jordan

Box Score

BJ Pugmire scored his first goal of the season. (BYU Photo)

OGDEN, Utah (May 28, 2011) — On a rainy Saturday night the BYU Cougars took down rival, Ogden on Saturday night 1-0 for the first win of the Premier Development League season. BYU is now 6-2-2 overall and 1-2-2 in PDL play.

“It was nice to get three points,” said senior midfielder, BJ Pugmire. “Hopefully we can come back from the break and have some more confidence and pick up where we left off.”

In the second meeting between the Cougars and Outlaws of the week BYU shutout Ogden in both matches and scored its second goal of the season by BJ Pugmire in the 30th minute. The game was physical in the wet conditions featuring 26 combined fouls and nine cautions including two for BYU sophomore defender, Jonathan Junca. BYU out shot Ogden 13-9 and and tied with five corners each.

“It was a great night for the team,” said assistant coach, Clay Christenson. “The win wasn’t pretty, but well deserved for the hours and effort of preparation. Probably more important is that we head into a week-long break on a positive note, which will bring more confidence when we return.”

The Cougars next set of games is in two weeks on June 10 and 11 versus the Orange County Blue Star and the Southern California Seahorses. The matches will be broadcast live on BYUtv.

Follow the Cougars on www.byusoccer.com and www.twitter.com/byusoccer.Tweet

PROVO, Utah (May 26, 2011) — Sophomore forward, Garrett Losee was honorably mentioned on the USL Premier Devleopment League “Team of the Week” for the week of May 15-21.

Losee started against the Fresno Fuego on May 20 in a 3-0 loss in Provo. He played a full 90 minutes and recorded three shots.

Read the PDL release here.Tweet

Jarom Jordan

Scott Heaton and the Cougars look to beat Ogden on Saturday. (BYU Photo)

PROVO, Utah (May 25, 2011) — After Tuesday’s scoreless draw in Provo, the BYU Cougars and Ogden Outlaws will meet again this Saturday at Bonneville High School at 6 p.m. in the second of four meetings this season. Both teams are 0-2-2 in PDL play while BYU is 5-2-2 overall.

BYU leads the series 15-2-2 and won five in a row before Tuesday’s scoreless tie. BYU has outscored Ogden 9-2 in the last six meetings. The Cougars have never lost in Ogden, going 8-0-1 and have outscored Ogden, 13-3. The two teams are tied for fifth place with two points each in the Southwest Division of the PDL.

UP NEXT

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Robbie Bullough
For byusoccer.com

Box Score

PROVO, Utah (May 24, 2011) — The BYU Cougars (5-2-2 overall, 0-2-2 PDL) hosted the Ogden Outlaws (0-2-2) in the first of four games between the two teams and failed to convert on multiple scoring opportunities leaving with a disappointing 0-0 tie.

“It’s a kick in the teeth for sure because we didn’t get three points.  And we need to get three points,” said BYU head coach Chris Watkins.

BYU possessed the ball well in the first half completing over 240 of its passes and saw many more scoring opportunities than Ogden.

“I feel like we had possession way more than they did and I feel like it was a good step for us,” said sophomore forward, Garrett Losee.

But in the second half, the Cougars completed just 170 passes and struggled to maintain possession.

“We were a little tired because we were pressing so much.  We were shooting for three points,” Watkins said.

The Cougars were awarded 7 corner kicks to Ogden’s 1 and doubled the Outlaws on shots 18-9, but had just 4 on frame. Losee and BJ Pugmire both had opportunities in the box in the second half but saw their shots sail just wide of the net.

“I’m a little frustrated with all of us because we had so many chances,” Pugmire said.

Pugmire moved from the wing to attacking midfielder in place of Doug Clark who suffered a concussion in Friday’s loss to Fresno.  The senior had 4 shots while Losee added 3 to lead BYU.

Jace Green saw his first action of the season in the second half after recently returning from a full-time mission in Portugal.

The in-state battle was physical, resulting in 30 fouls and five cards.  Losee picked up the match’s first yellow card in the 31st minute.  The other four cards were all issued in the second half.  Adrian Castano picked one up in the 61st minute for Ogden and James Bindrup got BYU’s second card in the 66th.  Joe Hickman was then carded twice in the 67th and 78th minutes, the second yellow resulting in a red card.  Hickman’s ejection gave the Cougars a one-man advantage in the final 16 minutes, including 4 minutes of stoppage time.  But BYU failed to capitalize and Ogden escaped with just the second tie in series history.

“Deep down it hurts.  It’s gut-wrenching,” said Watkins.

The Cougars have managed just one goal in their first four PDL games.

“Once we get a couple, and get that confidence…, the flood gates will open,” said Pugmire.

BYU and Ogden each pick up one point giving them both two on the season.  The two teams are still tied for fifth in the Southwest Division and will square off again this Saturday at 6 p.m. MT at Bonneville High School in Ogden.Tweet

Jarom Jordan
jarom.jordan@byu.edu

Full Game Notes – PDF

PROVO, Utah (May 23, 2011) — In the first of four meetings this season including two this week, BYU (5-2-1 overall, 0-2-1 PDL) will play in-state rival Ogden (0-2-1) on Tuesday, May 24 at 8 p.m. MT in Provo. The game will be broadcast live on BYUtv and www.byutv.org/live.

UP NEXT
The Cougars will play at Ogden this Saturday at 6 p.m. MT.

COUGAR QUICK HITS
-BYU welcomes back 10 returned missionaries from two year LDS missions across the globe for the 2011 season who were on the team prior to their missions in 2008. Those include Colby Bauer (Oregon), Will Burton (Mexico), Easton Folster (Argentina), Scott Heaton (Japan), Jonathan Junca (Chile), Garrett Losee (Puerto Rico), Mike Moreno (San Diego), Derek Taylor (New Jersey), McKay Corbett (Canada), and Jace Green.

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BYU Assistant Coach, Clay Christenson gives his thoughts about the team “From the Box”.

It was a very difficult loss on Friday night, and I know the team is anxious to move forward and play again tomorrow against Ogden. It’s important to quickly learn from mistakes and move on to the next game, especially early in the season. As a staff, we constantly remind our players to be confident, even if they miss an opportunity to score or tackle a ball, forget about the past and move on to the next opportunity.

At Monday morning’s practice, the team spent time watching film, then working on a few changes for tomorrow night and it was clear how motivated the players were to prove themselves and get a win tomorrow. Go Cougs!Tweet

PROVO, Utah (May 19, 2011) — BYU sophomore defender, Junior Lartey (pronounced LA-tay) was honorably mentioned on the USL Premier Development League Team of the Week today for the week of May 8-14.

He started both games last week as the Cougars opened the PDL season on the road against the Fresno Fuego on May 12 and the Orange County Blue Star on May 14.

Lartey and the Cougars lost to Fresno 2-0 and held the Blue Star to a 1-1 draw after Orange County had scored nine goals in its first two games. He has logged 162 minutes in two games and has recorded a shot, four fouls, and a yellow card.

Here’s a link to the full PDL release.Tweet