LANCASTER, California (June 26, 2010) — On the same day the United States lost to Ghana 2-1 in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, BYU lost 2-1 to the Lancaster Rattlers.  The Rattlers swept the season series and lowered BYU’s record to 2-7-2 this season, also giving the Cougars a three-game losing streak.

“We’ve had a lot of positives on this trip,” said assistant coach, Chad Sackett.  “We’ve seen leadership and the guys come together.  In a way it’s a hard weekend.  The guys played well.  We have good players.  We had opportunities.  It’s like the USA national team today.  I compare how I felt after watching the USA play today and how we played this weekend.”

Britton Osborne scored in the loss to Lancaster. (BYU Photo)

BYU scored first for the third time this season when Toni Niccoli stole the ball from the Lancaster back line, passed off to Blake Tillotson who took a shot while Brit Osborne took the deflection and finished it in the 10th minute.  It was Osborne’s third goal of the season, which is tied for most on the team with Toni Niccoli and was the second fastest goal of the season.

Lancaster struck back in the 18th minute when Tyler Coombs scored his first goal of the year off a deflection by a Cougar defender to tied the score at one.  Just seven minutes later the Rattlers, Mauricio Harrie scored the game winner on a breakaway to beat BYU goalkeeper, Cory Cosgrave.

“It was just another unlucky game,” said junior defender, Doug Clark.  “We got beat by a team that we could have and should have beaten.  Whether it was the ball bouncing the wrong way or not finishing our chances, that’s just the way it went.”

Just before the half freshman, Pedro Vasconcelos scored a goal off a Britton Osborne cross but the goal was disallowed for an offside call.

The Cougars will bus back to Provo and prepare for their first meeting with in-state rival, Ogden on Saturday, July 3 at the Stadium at South Field.  Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. MT and fans can watch the Stadium of Fire fireworks show in the stands, following the game.

Starters:
GK-Cory Cosgrave
D-Tyler Christiansen (Brady Marshall), Drew Van Wagenen, KC Whitworth, Cameron Lamb (Trevor Henderson)
M-Matt Rider (Doug Clark), Brent Jensen, Pedro Vasconcelos, Britton Osborne
F-Blake Tillotson (Zach De Francis), Toni Niccoli

Postgame Notes:
-The current three-game losing streak is the second three gamer of the season and ties the longest such skid since 2006
-After going 1-0-1 against the Rattlers in 2009, BYU lost both games this season
-BYU lost despite scoring first for the first time this year (2-1-0 when scoring first)
-The Cougars have scored eight goals in 11 games this year.
-BYU lost both games this week by a single goal
-BYU is 2-7-2 with five games remaining, meaning it will need to win its remaining games to salvage a .500 record.
-All five are in Utah, with four in Provo.

BYU had its second practice post-tryouts for the Premier Development League season this morning.  The team trained from 6:30 a.m.-9:00 a.m. by scrimmaging in the Indoor Practice Facility, conditioning with strength & conditioning with Josh Morzelewski, and some more conditioning at the end of practice on Haws Field.

The news of the morning came from recently returned missionary, Zach Dupaix who split his head opener and went to the hospital for stiches after he accidentally ran into James Bindrup.  There’s nothing like “welcome home” present like that.

Check out an audio interview with sophomore midfielder, Doug Clark.

Senior defender, Drew Van Wagenen waves to the camera as the team sprints at practice.

Jarom Jordan
jarom.jordan@byu.edu
Media Relations Director

Listen to an audio interview with assistant coach, Chad Sackett.

PROVO, Utah (Feb. 25, 2010) — Day one of the morning portion of open tryouts concluded for the BYU men’s soccer team in the Indoor Practice Facility on campus. The tryout featured 99 players from 14 different states and four countries who competed from 6-9 a.m. this morning.

Players attended tryouts from 6-9 a.m. this morning in the Indoor Practice Facility on campus.

The players scrimmaged 8v8 most of the morning session. The first cuts will be posted after tryouts tonight from 4-6 p.m. at the RB Turf Field.

“It went pretty well,” said assistant coach, Chad Sackett. “In the morning tryout we are usually looking for guys that we kind of know aren’t going to make it. It’s tricky too because we want to get a good look at the guys we want to keep but we also want to cut it down to games that are a little more manageable.

“It’s surprising each year I’ve been involved, how much better the players are.”

The team will select 21 players to begin practice on Monday in preparation for the Premier Development League season. That does not include incoming freshman who will join the team following high school graduation this summer.

Today
4-6 p.m. (Richards Building Turf)

Friday, Feb. 26
6-9 a.m. (Indoor Practice Facility)
4-6 p.m. (Richards Building Turf)

Saturday, Feb. 27
4-6 p.m. (Richards Building Turf)
10 p.m.-12 a.m. (Indoor Practice Facility)

Stay posted to www.byusoccer.com for the latest from tryouts and other team news.

The roster will be finalized Saturday night and posted on the team blog soon thereafter.