BYU men’s soccer fights to draw against LA Misioneros

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BYU men’s soccer played the L.A. Misioneros Friday night at South Field to a 2-2 draw, but not without some controversy.

In the 65th minute, with the score tied at two, an L.A. defender denied a shot on goal by BYU freshman forward Blake Frischnecht with an apparent handball, but no foul was called.

“The defender lifted his arm and hit the ball,” Head Coach Chris Watkins said. “We all saw it.”

Though he wished the call had been made, Watkins had nothing but praise for his team’s performance after the game.

“This was probably the highest level game ever played out here,” Watkins said.

The level of play picked up in the 23rd minute when sophomore forward Winston Sorhaitz got behind the L.A. defense, side-stepped the keeper near the top of the box and buried a shot into the back of the net.

“I’ve had a number of 1-on-1 tries get stopped already,” Sorhiatz said. “I decided to beat him, took it to the side and scored.”

The Cougars’ advantage was short lived though, as the Misioneros drew a penalty kick in the 29th minute and converted it, leveling the match at one a piece.

“It was an exciting game,” Waktins said. “Both teams were playing really well.”

In the second half, the Cougars reclaimed the lead when senior midfielder Colby Bauer headed in a corner from Sorhaitz in the 52nd minute but followed it up by conceding another equalizer to L.A. 79 seconds later, which quickly silenced the crowd.

After the apparent handball went uncalled, BYU created a number of chances on the attacking end but was unable to get the ball into the net.

“We had some good looks,” Watkins said. “We just couldn’t put them away.”

Unable to put L.A. away, BYU settled for its first tie at home this year.

The Cougars will have another chance to clinch a playoff berth when they play the Albuquerque Sol on July 8 at South Field.

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