By JOE DANA
A week after BYU men’s soccer coach Chris Watkins called his group’s showing “the most incredible team effort” he’s ever seen, the Cougars also received praise for their work as men, not players.
“I’m proud of our soccer team. They really are ambassadors,” Brigham Young University vice president Fred Skousen said. “For them to make such an impact on anyone they affiliate with is very important.”
The club soccer team represented BYU in Statesboro, Ga., among 15 other schools in the National Intramural Recreation Sports Association tournament held Nov. 17-20. A total of 59 teams played in the tournament, and BYU’s 16-team division was considered the elite group in Georgia. BYU swept the six games they played, outscoring their opponents 13-3 and taking home its fourth straight championship.
Mary Calendar, tournament director of NIRSA, said that she noticed a consistent attitude among the men in blue.
“They are very polite and gracious winners,” Calendar said. “They aren’t a taunting team and that’s nice to see. They are very fair on the field as well.”
During the tournament, the Cougars gained revenge on crosstown nemesis Weber State on their way to the title, but as coaches and players said, they were careful not to get wrapped up in the wins.
“I think the prevalent attitude among the players is that it was business,” senior midfielder Art VanWagenen said. “Nobody got overconfident and we beat the teams we knew we could beat.”
VanWagenen was a key in the quarterfinal win against Michigan with his flawless defense and veteran play in the air.
Because BYU is not a sanctioned NCAA team, they play in the club national tournament every year instead of the NCAA contest. The players said that it’s frustrating not to be able to compete with Division I schools, but they aren’t out for attention.
“It’s about inner pride,” VanWagenen said. “If we got more recognition it would be well deserved, but on the same token we’re not going to complain.”
The players said heart is what carried this year’s often struggling but perseverant team through the tournament powers.
“That’s what sets this team apart,” VanWagenen said. “Proof of that is that since the beginning of the season, we’ve had the trait of always coming back.”
The Cougars pulled off two comebacks in the tournament after being behind to Miami of Ohio and Michigan in the second half of both games.
“There is power in group leadership and that’s what sets this team apart,” sophomore forward Brandon LeRoy said. “Last year it was a couple of leaders that we all looked to but this year it was a team effort by everyone.”
LeRoy proved to be a large part of team’s three-day miracle, leading the team with five goals and four assists throughout the six games.
By himself, LeRoy scored more goals in the tournament than all of BYU’s opponents combined.
