By Jill Ivie
The BYU men”s soccer team learned a lesson after losing both games of its two game home stand. The Cougars learned that their hope for success in the Premier Development League lies in the future.
The Cougars” record was reduced to 1-3 in league play after falling to the Southern California Seahorses Friday, May 16, in a physical game, 3-2.
The California Gold, who play in the more advanced USL Pro Select League, dominated the Cougars, 6-1, in a rainy game Saturday night.
“We certainly didn”t have any luck and I”m not sure we want luck,” BYU head coach Chris Watkins said. “We”re not going to win the championship this year. Our guys will work harder to push through this. I”m confident in that and we”ll be better in the future.”
BYU fell behind early to the Seahorses, giving up two shots and two goals in the first seven minutes of the game.
“In the first 18 minutes of our last two games, we”ve given up four goals,” Watkins said. “We”re nervous to see our opponents. We see them as more experienced and better players and unfortunately we play to that. Then we settle down and see that we can play. We may not be as good but we can play with them.”
The Cougars answered the early call in the 20th minute. Brock Blake shot a free kick through the feet of the Seahorse wall for forward Matt Affleck to redirect into the goal.
The Seahorses scored their final goal just minutes before halftime bringing the score to 3-1 until the Cougars answered again with a final goal seven minutes into the second half.
BYU”s Brad Peterson found the top-right corner of the net with a long kick from outside the box to complete the game”s scoring. Daniel Yescas was credited with the assist.
“We learn more in one game like this than we do in a whole season of club soccer,” Watkins said. “It”s frustrating because we are used to winning by three goals but if we can just keep our eyes on our long-term development, we”ll be fine.”
Physical play characterized the two teams and resulted in a total of four issued yellow cards, two for each side.
BYU led the shots-on-goal count with 14 compared to the Seahorses 11.
Both games were played without three of BYU”s starters, Chad Deshler, Travis Winn, and Nate Lowe.
Saturday night, the California Gold from Modesto, Calif. was victorious over the Cougars in a game that was plagued by heavy rain.
The Cougars struck early when Matt Affleck found the goal after following a shot from teammate Ken Ojuka that bounced off the Gold goalkeeper in the fifth minute.
That would, however, be all that the BYU could get.
“I was really happy with our possession,” Watkins said. “I was surprised and I think everyone here was surprised. We had possession. We had as many chances as they did. We gave them good chances.”
The Gold scored five minutes later on a free kick that deflected off a wall of BYU defenders and found the foot of California”s Tony Bussard.
California scored two more times, despite an alleged missed handball call by the officials, which resulted in a 3-1 score at halftime.
“Scores can be deceiving and certainly tonight the score was deceiving,” Watkins said. “There”s no doubt about that.”
Despite leading in shots on goal, 12-11 and corner kicks 11-5, the Cougars couldn”t convert their opportunities into goals.
“We could play the long ball and build a bunker and try to keep the score low but that doesn”t develop players,” Watkins said. “We have to develop players realizing we are not a championship team. We could come out and play all these teams and lose 2-0 but that doesn”t do me any good for next season.”
The Cougars are away the next two weeks, playing the Southern California Seahorses, the Orange County Blue Star, and the Nevada Wonders.
BYU will return home to South Field on June 6th and 7th to face the Fresno Fuego in another two-game home stand.
