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

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

BJ Pugmire will play his final game as a Cougar on Thursday. (Daily Universe)

PDF Game Notes

PROVO, Utah (July 19, 2011) — Thursday night the BYU Cougars will finish the 2011 PDL season against the LA Blues 23 at the Stadium at South Field in Provo, Utah. Kickoff is at 8 p.m. MT and the game will be broadcast live on BYUtv and on www.byutv.org/live.

“Our guys are very motivated,” said BYU head coach, Chris Watkins. “Our guys really want to prove that we’re a better team than our record. We are excited to go out and get a win for the seniors.”

“We want to end on a good note,” said senior goalkeeper, Cory Cosgrave.

The LA Blues 23 represent a PDL team for the LA Blues organization who also have a USL PRO, W-League, and youth club teams. It will be the second meeting all-time. June 17 the Cougars scored a goal in the first minute and another in the 22nd but gave up three goals to lose 3-2.

“Offensively we were able to get behind their defense and finished a couple of nice goals,” said Watkins. “The Blues had a couple of brilliant shots against us that were world class.” See the box score of this game at this link.

BYU’s 13 goals this season mark a single-season low for the Cougars in the PDL (since 2003). However, 21 goals allowed is the fourth fewest in a single season in BYU history and tied for third (goals allowed per game) in the southwest division.

“Everyone has stuck together,” said BYU senior goalkeeper, Cory Cosgrave. “We set goals to stay organized and not give up silly goals.”

GAME #16 FAST FACTS
LA Blues 23 (3-9-2) vs. BYU Cougars (3-8-4)
Thursday, July 21, 2011 at 8 p.m. MT
Stadium at South Field in Provo, UT

BYU competes in the top U23 semi-professional soccer league in the nation (Premier Development League). BYU players are not paid and do not have athletic scholarships.

Follow the Cougars on www.byusoccer.com and @byusoccer on Twitter.

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“Overall I felt we had the better run of play and we certainly had the chances,” said BYU head coach, Chris Watkins. “All the credit in the world to their keeper (Devin Zimmerman) who had a couple of amazing saves.”

The Cougars and Outlaws played a physical game for the first half an hour before BYU struck first with a goal by Oregon State transfer, David Gates in the 29th minute. It was Gates’ second goal of the year.

“David Gates continues to be a nice threat for us and had a great goal today,” said Watkins.

However, late in the first half the Outlaws got the equalizer in the 44th minute as Outlaw forward, Elias Hatungimana, chipped the ball over BYU goalkeeper, Cory Cosgrave.

In the second half BYU put Ogden on its heels but didn’t finish any shots. The game winning goal came in the 67th minute when former Cougar, Josh Patino knocked in a cross off a free kick to make it 2-1 Ogden.

The win gave the Outlaws their second victory of the season and was the fourth game played against BYU in 2011.

May 24 0-0  T (Watch the BYUtv Broadcast of this game)
May 28 1-0  W
July 2   1-1  T
July 16  1-2  L

BYU was 9-0-1 versus the Outlaws in Ogden going into the contest and after the loss the overall series record is 16-3-3.

Watch BYU’s final regular season game on Thursday, July 21 at 8 p.m MT in Provo. It will be live on BYUtv.Tweet

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

Saturday night was great, a well deserved three points for the men in blue. What I was most impressed with was our finishing, we finally put balls in the back of the net. In fact, Doug Clark’s goal was one of the finest I’ve ever personally witnessed. Doug has really done a nice job for us a left back. He’s a dynamic weapon going forward, while working very hard defensively to make sure we don’t give anything up.

It’s time to move forward, really move forward and put a winning streak together. With a week of preparation before our next match, we have plenty of time to improve as a team while riding the confidence we gained on Saturday night. A ‘good’ problem we currently have is the number of players earning more minutes and proving they deserve to be on the field. Unfortunately, only 11 can be rewarded with a start and just a handful more will enter the match so I’m fully anticipating the most competive week of practice we’ve had all year. Back to work on Tuesday, Go Cougs!Tweet

Junior midfielder, Connor Bassett gives his weekly thoughts about the team in “On the Pitch”.

Road trips have a way of bringing our team together and building friendships.  Once again, I won’t spend any time talking about the games (that’s for the sports writers to do).  I will say, however, that both games had their share of positive moments and we hope to continue to improve each game.

Our trip last weekend was successful overall.  In fact, our only regret off the field was the fact that we didn’t have enough time to eat dinner at BJ Pugmire’s house again!

My favorite thing about road trips is learning new things about my teammates.  And once again, we created a handful of unforgettable memories on this trip:

Winston Sorhaitz survived his first road trip with the team, congrats to the freshman.  Doug Clark is surprisingly quite the bed-hog: we all saw a side of Doug Clark that becomes rather angry and violent when he is forced to share a bed with someone else.  Be careful if you happen to be around James Bindrup in the middle of a heated conversation; he has to be the center of attention (as I found out while reading a book during an apparently life-changing discussion about zombies, shotguns, and samurai swords).  Junior Lartey and Jantzen Romney are the kind of guys that always happen to be in the right place at the right time, as we all witnessed on several occasions over the weekend, but you’ll have to talk to them if you want to know the details!

Anyway, we are excited to improve our our season this weekend.  We have a great opportunity to play Ventura this Thursday night.  We are a good team, and we are anxious to prove it!Tweet

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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Today’s practice featured a couple of new faces on the team. Former Springville Red Devil and high school teammate of BYU goalkeeper, Easton Folster, Bryson Pope is back from a mission and practiced with the team. I think he and Jace Green are the two tallest guys on the team.

High school graduates Winston Sorhaitz (Pleasant Grove) and Josh Hunter (Ohio)  graduated from high school and are practicing with the team. It was Sorhaitz third practice and Hunter’s first.

Today two year starting keeper, Bryan Black practiced with the team as the third keeper (he graduated in April and isn’t on the team). The fourth was Brackin Flitton who was a guest keeper. He was the starting goalie at Davis last season when the Darts won the state title. He gave up a mere three goals in 20 games that season. He is headed for Dallas on his LDS mission on June 29.

From what I gathered practice was VERY competitive. I saw fire in a lot of guys. These guys aren’t happy about scoring two goals in five games so far. Six goals allowed in five games (three in one game) is pretty good. The coaching staff focused practice on goal scoring and attacking the goal today. Sorhaitz looked impressive. Very quick.

The BYU soccer camps began this week, meaning 13 players are working them and the six hours every day from Monday-Thursday plus practicing. Get some rest fellas! This week it’s cubs and mini cubs.

BYU is prepping for a Friday/Saturday set of games against Orange County (May 14 1-1 tie on the road) and the first meeting with the Southern California Seahorses this year.

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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

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