Men’s soccer preps for the season

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    By Kirstin Starr

    With one exhibition game behind the BYU men?s soccer club, the team is looking forward to the 2005 season.

    This is the third year of play for BYU soccer in the Premier Development League. Although they ended the first two with losing seasons, the team is excited for this year, said head coach Chris Watkins.

    ?We return a veteran team this year,? Watkins said. ?We are very optimistic about the season.?

    Although the team lost a few players to graduation and their starting goalkeeper to a mission, ?which is like losing your quarterback,? Watkins said, they continue in optimism.

    He said this season?s goal is to come away with a winning record.

    ?Everything must fall into place perfectly,? he said. ?Every game is different and we could end up 10-6 or 6-10.?

    The team practices every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday morning. Because this is a club sport, none of the players are eligible for scholarship awards.

    ?Each player is playing for the love of the game,? Watkins said.

    He said this really helps with the camaraderie between the players on and off the field.

    In the match up against the Real Reserves on April 27, BYU was tied in the 80th minute before giving up two late goals. Watkins said they didn?t know what to expect after being off the field in between seasons for so long.

    Although there were shots that they were unable to capitalize on, Watkins said the game was a good run for them. It was hard lose, but overall the team was happy with the performance, he said.

    Watkins played a lot of his players to give them an opportunity to prove themselves on the field. This, he said, was successful in solidifying the starting line up.

    ?This team is capable of a lot,? Watkins said, ?After the game, we were able to talk about the lineup and pretty much finalize it. Plus, we do still have a week of practice as well.?

    The Cougars open up regular-season play when they face the San Diego Gauchos in California on Friday, then play Southern California the next night.

    BYU then returns to Provo for the first home match against the Bakersfield Brigade on May 19.

    The coach reminded his players each team they face will be challenging as they have been in the past.

    The Fresno Fuegos and the Orange County Blue Star have lead the league the past years, Watkins said, so they will be especially hard, but the Cougars have lost to the Nevada Wonder, who were in last place in the PDL in 2004.

    ?Every game is different,? Watkins said.

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