By Jill Ivie
The BYU men”s soccer team kicked off its inaugural Premier Development League season with an exhibition and service trip to Monterrey, Mexico.
The Cougars played three exhibition games in Monterrey, facing Tigres on April 25 and Monterrey on April 29.
The three exhibition games, which earned them a record of one win and two ties, were played in a professional stadium in Monterrey.
“We had 14 guys that spoke Spanish, so that was helpful,” head coach Chris Watkins said.
The excursion concluded the Cougar”s third foreign trip in three years.
In 2001, BYU played six games in Spain and Holland, winning four, tying one and losing one, against Vallecas, FC Sittard, Minor Nuth and reserve teams from Rayo Vallecano and FC Barcelona.
The following year the Cougars played four games in Mexico, in Pachuca and Mexico City. BYU faced reserve teams from Pachuca and Cruz Azul, winning two and losing two.
The Cougars” desire for international play accompanies their entrance into the PDL and desire to step up their level of competition.
“We loved it because it was a great opportunity to get the BYU name out and to represent the Church,” forward Brock Blake said.
Watkins said the significant improvement by the team in the past few months can be credited to the increased challenge and level of play it has faced.
During its stay in Mexico, the team also participated in a single adult fireside, dance and service project to clean a local city park.
The team helped organize the fireside with the area president and six players spoke to the young adults.
The Cougars also spent a few hours picking up trash at a local park in the area.
“It was a really neat experience to be in Mexico where they love soccer,” Blake said. “We got to interact with the people and play some great soccer.”
A number of missionaries serving in the Monterrey, Mexico area accompanied the interested local crowds showing their support for BYU.
“There was a great turnout,” Watkins said. “The area president was very happy.”
The time spent in Mexico came less than a week before the season home opener, in which BYU beat the Nevada Wonders, 3-0.
“It was great preparation for us,” Blake said. “They are very skilled. It helped us as a team to be traveling and to be playing some good teams.”
