DeFrancis Sidelined as Cougars Finish Fuego
Brittany Eads
(310) 804-7245
britteads@gmail.com
Brent Jensen
Provo, UT (July 11, 2009) - For the Cougars, Friday night's 1-0 victory over the Fresno Fuego could be summed up in one word: brutal. With fouls and yellow cards flying left and right, the game reached its tipping point when Fuego defender Eddie “Moto” Gutierrez was red carded and ejected from the field after cursing and obscenely gesturing at the field referee.
But perhaps the game's most shocking moment came when BYU's Zack DeFrancis was sent flying during a one-on-one battle with a Fuego opponent. The Cougar forward crashed down onto his right elbow and snapped his upper arm bone in half, ensuring that the Cougars' leading scorer will be sidelining the rest of this season.
“Losing Zack is a huge blow,” head coach Chris Watkins lamented. “It will probably mean that we'll be changing up our starting lineup for Saturday's game.”
Thankfully, losing DeFrancis wasn't completely in vain; BYU managed to score the game-winning goal in the 51st minute, when midfielder Brent Jensen sent a headed ball sailing into the Fresno net on an assist from Steve Magleby.
BYU's win gives the team three points and propels them further towards their hopes of making PDL playoffs. They will have to win all three of their remaining season games to ensure a spot in the tournament.
“Usually, we can afford a tie, but in these circumstances we really can't,” Watkins explained. “These games are about results, and we've got to win if we want to keep going this year.”
The Cougars face the Orange Country Blue Star tonight at 7:30 in BYU's South Stadium. The game will be broadcast live on BYUTV.
For more information, visit http://www.byusoccer.com
