Jarom Jordan

Box Score

PROVO, Utah (June 11, 2011) — For the second consecutive night the BYU Cougars squandering multiple scoring chances in route to a home loss against top competition in the Southwest Division. The Cougars lost 3-1 to the Southern California Seahorses on Saturday night dropping their overall record to 6-4-2, 1-4-2 in the PDL.

“You work extremely hard at practice and to come away with two losses this weekend is really disappointing,” said BYU assistant coach, Clay Christenson. “We have guys who work hard, want to be here, and sacrifice a lot. Our guys are anxious to be better.”

“We have the skills,” said forward, Toni Niccoli. “Little mental mistakes are costing us. It feels like a repeat of last year. Everyone on this team is talented. We have to come together.”

The Seahorses struck first in the 13th minute when Kennedy Chongo connected with Ryan Shaw in the box for the 1-0 lead. The goal was Shaw’s seventh of the season.

BYU answered in the 18th minute when midfielder, Jantzen Romney was fouled in the penalty area. BJ Pugmire scored on the PK for his team leading second goal of the season, both of which have come on penalty kicks.

In the 29th minute BYU’s Will Burton was whistled for a foul in the box, giving Seahorse midfielder Blake Leyden a chance at a penalty kick but Cougar keeper, Cory Cosgrave made a spectacular save and dive on the ball to keep the score 1-1 until the half.

The second half featured BYU dominating possession and threatening often but coming up short multiple times. The Seahorses took advantage by scoring in the 59th minute from Ryan Shaw and assisted by Jordan Burt for the go ahead and eventual game-winner and tacked another on in the 77th minute when the BYU’s Doug Clark scored an own goal on a corner kick deflection.

Next weekend BYU will travel to play at the LA Blues 23 on Friday, June 17 and Saturday, June 18 at Southern California.

Tweet

Robbie Bullough produced a couple of videos for BYUtv, shown below.  The first is the entire roster in alphabetical order, on camera.  BYUtv edits this to show the starters for each broadcast.  The second video is P.I.G. soccer style with BJ Pugmire and Toni Niccoli.

Tweet

Jarom Jordan
jarom.jordan@byu.edu

PROVO, Utah (May 27, 2010) — The BYU Cougars fought valiantly on the road against the Los Angeles Legends, but lost 3-1 on Thursday night.  The Cougars controlled possession and momentum most of the first half but missed on a couple of scoring chances.  BYU is now 0-3-1 and has lost three in a row for the first time since the end of the 2006 season.

“I was proud of our effort,” said BYU head coach, Chris Watkins.  “The Legends were a great team and they played very well.  We all gave it our very best shot.  We still need to finish a lot of balls.  We will work for a better result next time.”

Toni Niccoli scored for the Cougars. (BYU Photo)

The Legends have won all three meetings against the Cougars and swept the season series, outscoring BYU, 5-1 in two games.  Blake Tillotson, BJ Pugmire, and Brady Marshall all had solid scoring opportunities but missed.  Heriberto Ponce struck first for the Legends in the 43rd minute when he took a rebound off a shot and put it away.  In the 65th, Marc Pulido scored a well struck free kick up and over a BYU wall, on the inside of the post and in to go up 2-0.  Freshman forward, Toni Niccoli snapped a two-game offensive shutout streak for the Cougars when he turned and fired a rocket shot off a pass from Jantzen Romney to make it 2-1 in the 78th minute.  Ten minutes later the Cougars brought 10 players into the box for an unsuccessful corner kick that Marc Pulido countered on and scored to make it 3-1.

“I think a lot of us are leaving tonight knowing that we learned something but being so far down in the table is a bit daunting.  We have a good team and we’ll bounce back but we feel our backs are against the wall.  We have work to do.”

Junior goalkeeper, Cory Cosgrave got his first start and playing time as a Cougar as well as Brazilian freshman midfielder Pedro Vasconcelos, who made an immediate impact.  “Our guys are excited about having some new ideas in our attack,” said Watkins.  “We’re excited about Pedro.”  “He brings something to the team that no one else does,” said Pugmire.  “His ability to play balls with his quickness and moves makes a difference.”

BYU will practice Friday morning in preparation for a matchup with the Southern California Seahorses at Biola University in La Mirada, California at 7 p.m. PT, Saturday night.

Scoring Summary
43′  LA     1-0  Heriberto Ponce
65′  LA     2-0  Marc Pulido
78′  BYU  2-1  Toni Niccoli (Jantzen Romney)
89′  LA     3-1  Marc Pulido

BYU Starters
GK-Cory Cosgrave
D-James Bindrup, Drew Van Wagenen, KC Whitworth, Cameron Lamb
M-Britton Osborne, Brent Jensen, Kip Critchlow,
F-Toni Niccoli, Brady Marshall, BJ PugmireTweet

Tweet

Tweet

Jarom Jordan
jarom.jordan@byu.edu

Toni Niccoli – Forward (Fr.)

Brady Marshall – Forward (Jr.)

Kip Critchlow – Midfielder (Fr.)

PROVO, Utah (April 9, 2010) — After a frantic, all out offensive assault, BYU scored the game winning goal in double overtime to beat the Dixie Red Storm, 2-1 in Provo on Friday night. KC Whitworth played Brady Marshall the ball wide who then scored the game winning goal in the 107th minute, his second goal of the spring exhibition season.

“It feels great,” said junior forward, Brady Marshall. “KC (Whitworth) played me the ball and I turned and let it run … and put it in the far post. It was all KC. I just finished it off.”

Toni Niccoli, assisted by BJ Pugmire, got BYU on the board in the 68th minute with his first goal since the 2007 PDL season before his mission. Dixie tied the score in the 78th minute with a penalty kick. The Cougars relentlessly attacked Dixie with shot after shot only to play 17 minutes of the possible 20 in overtime to win with Marshall’s golden goal.

“I think we’re doing well,” said freshman forward, Toni Niccoli. “We’ve made huge steps in the two games this week. We’re starting to create a lot more opportunities now. It’s just putting them in.”

The Cougars outshot the Red Storm, 21-7 and made five saves on the night.

“I loved it,” said freshman, Kip Critchlow. “The fans were really loud and we got the win so it was great.”

BYU’s next game is April 24 at 6 p.m. on Haws Field in Provo. Tickets are $6 for adults and $5 for students and children.

Chris Watkins rallies his team after the first overtime to victory against Dixie.