BJ Pugmire and the Cougars went undefeated during the fall season. (BYU Photo)

Jarom Jordan
jarom.jordan@byu.edu

PROVO, Utah (Nov. 29, 2010) — After a summer season in the Premier Development League with tough competition and 4-10-2 record, BYU ripped through its fall exhibition season, going undefeated and netting multiple goals in every game to take a step forward in preparation for next year.

“I’m very happy with this team,” said Watkins. “As we thought, it’s not the most talented team but they really work together for each other. They are fun to be around. I’m excited to see where we can go.”

The Cougars schedule featured three in-state teams, all home games and a contest against the BYU alumni and a scrimmage against BYU-Idaho.

September 24 BYU opened its three-week slate with a matchup against the Utah State Aggies.  BYU outshot USU 21-3, possessing the ball nearly the entire game.  The Cougars got goals from Tyler Christiansen (3′), Jantzen Romney (42′), and Kip Critchlow (67′) for a 3-1 win.

Two weeks later on October 8 the Cougars had a cat fight with the Weber State Wildcats.  The game got messy with eight yellow cards and three reds against WSU while BYU also earned a yellow and red.  The Cougars won 2-0 with both goals coming from senior forward, BJ Pugmire.

“We’ve got passion,” said Pugmire. “The guys really want to win. We’ve got desire. We’ve got the players and talent. It’s fun. There’s still a lot of work to do but it’s better. It’s so fun to play with these guys.”

Later that evening the BYU Alumni played the Utah Valley University Alumni to a 3-0 win with a hat trick coming from BYU head coach, Chris Watkins.

The next day BYU played the BYU Alumni, whomping the old-timer’s, 9-0.  The Alumni also scrimmaged each other resulting in an 8-7 win for the, yep you guess it, Cougars.

The final game of the fall was October 15 when BYU played Utah Valley in the “University Parkway Collision”.  The Cougars amazingly didn’t allow a shot while putting in five on the Wolverines for a shutout victory.

The next afternoon the BYU reserves defeated sister-school, BYU-Idaho 2-1.

BYU finished the fall undefeated at 3-0 (beating Utah State, Weber State, Utah Valley), outscoring its opponents 10-1.  Tyler Christiansen, Jantzen Romney, BJ Pugmire, and Blake Tillotson scored two goals each while Kip Critchlow and Doug Clark had a goal a piece.

Clark, Toni Niccoli, and Romney all added two assists and Pugmire and Ethan Meyer had one assist each.

Romney finished first in points with six, trailed by Pugmire with five, and Clark, Tillotson, and Christiansen with four.

“From our first fall game to the last fall game, seeing that progression is what we want,” said assistant coach, Chad Sackett.  “All in all, pretty good.”

“I feel like we have a style,” said senior defender, Tyler Christiansen. “I credit that a lot to our center midfielders who are very confident receiving the ball and moving forward with it. That was something I feel really good about.”

The Cougars now take a break until the first week in January when the team will begin to train for tryouts in February and the PDL season next May.

Listen to an audio interview with head coach, Chris Watkins about the fall season.

Tweet

Blake Tillotson scored twice and had an assist in victory, Friday night. (BYU Photo)

PROVO, Utah (Oct. 15, 2010) — The BYU Cougars finished fall exhibition play with a 5-0 win in the “University Parkway Collision” against Utah Valley, Friday night.  The Cougars end the fall season undefeated at 3-0.

“I like our guys to end on that kind of a note,” said BYU assistant coach, Chad Sackett.  “I really wish we would have had more (goals) because it could have been that way.  We needed more but I’ll take 5-0.”

BYU dominated the game, out shooting UVU, 28-0 and recorded seven corners to the Wolverines zero.  Ten of the Cougars shots were on goal, netting half.

“At first nothing went right,” said midfielder, Doug Clark.  “Eventually, it’s just a numbers game.  If you shoot 28 times, you’ll score five goals.”

The Cougars scored the eventual game-winner in the 39th minute when Jantzen Romney fed Doug Clark a ball in the box which Clark buried in the upper left “v”.

In the second half, Blake Tillotson put the Cougars up 2-0 on a header off the keeper’s hands from a ball launched at midfield by freshman, Ethan Meyer.

In the 63rd minute BYU built another solid attack where Doug Clark crossed an end line ball into the six-yard box to Janzten Romney for the Cougars third goal.

The fourth goal came in 71st with Blake Tillotson finished a Jantzen Romney offering.  Tyler Christiansen put a five spot on the board when he took an errant James Bindrup touch, and did a spin move while flipping the ball over the keeper’s hands for the final score of 5-0.

“I knew where the goal was but to be honest there was some luck involved there,” said Christiansen.  “I pride myself on being a defender who can score.  I’m two for two.  Two shots, two goals.  I don’t think I want to play forward because that would ruin my numbers.”

BYU held UVU to zero shots, a feet not often seen or accomplished.

“That was pretty good,” said senior, defender, Tyler Christiansen.  “I think they weren’t confident coming straight at us.”

The Cougars will scrimmage BYU-Idaho at 5 p.m. on Saturday, officially ending the fall season.  BYU will break until January when they’ll begin training in the mornings in preparation for the late February tryouts for the summer Premier Development League team.

“Our first game to this game, seeing that progression is what we want,” said Sackett.

“I feel like we have a style,” said Christiansen.  “I credit that a lot to our center mid’s who are very confident receiving the ball and moving forward with it.  That was something I feel really good about.”

Post Game Notes:
Scoring Summary
39′   BYU       Doug Clark (Jantzen Romney)
55′   BYU       Blake Tillotson (Ethan Meyer)
63′   BYU       Jantzen Romney (Doug Clark)
71′   BYU       Blake Tillotson (Jantzen Romney)
90+ BYU       Tyler Christiansen (Unassisted)

BYU Starters (Subs)
GK: Cory Cosgrave
D: Ethan Meyer, Tyler Christiansen, James Bindrup, Junior Lartey
M: Kip Critchlow, Doug Clark, Toni Niccoli
F: Janzten Romney, Blake Tillotson, BJ Pugmire

Cards
76′    BYU   Jantzen Romney

Final Stats
Stat                   UVU             BYU
Shots                  0                   28
SOG                    0                  10
Fouls                 11                   4
Corners             0                    7
Saves                 5                    0
Offsides            1                     4
Cards                0                     1

Chris Watkins wasn’t at the game because he is with the #8 BYU women’s soccer team as an assistant coach in New Mexico for Saturday’s game between BYU and New Mexico.

Listen to audio interviews with Chad Sackett, Tyler Christiansen, and Doug Clark.

Tweet

Doug Clark and the Cougars look to finish the fall season undefeated. (BYU Photo)

PROVO, Utah (Oct. 13, 2010) — BYU will play its final fall game this Friday versus cross town rival, Utah Valley in the “University Parkway Collision” at the Stadium at South Field in Provo on Friday, October 15 at 7 p.m.

“This is really important for everybody but especially the starters,” said BYU assistant coach, Chad Sackett. “Utah Valley is kind of the little brother, so to say and they’ve got something to prove. I imagine it will be a good crowd and a good group.”

The Cougars are 2-0 in fall exhibition play with victories against Utah State (3-1) and Weber State (2-0). BYU’s regular season is during the summer in the United Soccer League’s, Premier Development League. BYU went 4-10-2 during the 2010 summer season.

The BYU coaching staff likes the individual improvement from each member of the team this fall. “We’ve been looking for those little wins,” said Sackett. “If it’s not a goal, it’s something that each guy can improve upon.”

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

Quick Facts
What: Men’s Soccer — Utah Valley vs. BYU
When: Friday, Oct. 15 at 7 p.m.
Where: The Stadium at South Field in Provo, Utah

Listen to an audio interview with assistant coach, Chad Sackett after Wednesday’s practice.
Tweet

It’s been a while since the last entry but expect weekly updates right here with pictures, audio interviews, and videos.

The team is practicing three days a week and preparing for their final fall exhibition game versus Weber State this Friday. Come to the game at the Stadium at South Field at 7:30 p.m. to see the exhibition. Tickets are $10 for a reserved seat, $6 for adults/children, and $5 for students with a valid ID.

BYU has played Utah State (2-0 W) and Real Salt Lake (4-1 L) in exhibition games this fall.

The alumni will play two games next week, Friday Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 12 p.m. in an alumni versus alumni game.

Jarom Jordan

If you haven’t seen this video from the PDL season, check it out right here.

Tweet