The Cougars men’s soccer team remained undefeated in its fall preseason schedule after it ran all over in-state rival Utah 3-0 on Oct. 12
Scott Heaton and Blake Frischnecht hooked up for a goal for the second game in a row to open the scoring. Heaton sped down the left side of the field into Utah territory and then crossed the ball over to the middle. Frischnecht was able to skillfully redirect the ball and scored the easy goal, the only one of the first half.
“Last night and then again today before the game, we talked about getting that cross off and getting it straight at the top of the six to tap the ball in,” said Frischnecht. “Somehow it fell right to me and I just tapped it in.”
In the 72nd minute, Tanner Whitworth stuck with the play and was able to head the ball just out of reach of the goalie.
“It was the most amazing feeling,” said Whitworth. “The crowd got into it, and I was just so pumped and just happy that I finished it.”
This was Whitworth’s first goal of the season and may be his last for a while because he will be leaving on his mission to the Dominican Republic. Whitworth is the third member of his family to play for the Cougars. His brother Scott is a current member of the team, and his older brother KC was a captain and played for the team 2007–10.
In the 83rd minute after a yellow card was given to a Ute defender for a hard tackle, Pedro Vasconcelos took the free kick and Utah goalkeeper barely caught the ball, preventing another goal for the Cougars.
Late in the 90th minute, on nearly the exact same play as the first goal, Jace Green crossed a beautiful ball over and Frischknecht finished it for his second goal of the night.
“Blake has everything an athlete at this level needs: size, speed and pace,” said assistant coach Hugh Van Wagenen. “If we can integrate him into the team with a good understanding with his teammates … there’s a lot of potential there.”
The team will finish up its fall schedule Oct. 26 when it hosts Idaho State.
