BYU Men's Soccer Plays Mesa State
Jarom Jordan
BYU Men's Soccer Media Relations
jarom.jordan@byu.edu
801-471-4469
BYU Men's Soccer
PROVO, Utah (March 19, 2010) -- BYU will play two exhibition games against Mesa State, in preparation for the Premier Development League season, this Saturday starting at 2 p.m. in Grand Junction, Colo. at Walker Field. Both teams will play two games against each other with the first running 80 minutes and the second 60 minutes.
"This first friendly match will be a great chance for us to test a new formation we have been working on," said BYU head coach, Chris Watkins. "The team is training hard and although we've only been together for a couple weeks, the standard is pretty good. It will be nice to get the team out of town and spend a couple of days really focusing on our development. It's time to take our first steps as a team."
SCOUTING THE MAVERICKS
The Mavericks compete in Division II of the NCAA, finishing 2-15-2 overall in 2009 and 2-11-1 for seventh place out of nine teams in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. The Mavs are coached by Josh Pittman who begins his fourth year in Grand Junction with a 19-31-6 record. The Mavs allowed 2.16 goals per game in 2009 while scoring just 0.68 themselves.
PREVIEWING THE COUGARS
BYU is playing its first game with the new 2010 roster since announcing it on February 27. The Cougars begin the PDL regular season May 8 at the Orange County Blue Star before returning to Provo for its first home against the Los Angeles Legends on May 21.
2009 REVIEW
BYU finished 7-5-4 overall, in fourth position in the division and just one spot out of the playoffs. Despite some major injuries the Cougars defeated Southwest Division champion, Hollywood Hitmen, 1-0 and tied eventual PDL champ, Ventura County 2-2. Seven starters return this season, including goal keeper, Bryan Black, veteran defenders, KC Whitworth and Drew VanWagenen, and forwards Zach DeFrancis, Brady Marshall, and BJ Pugmire. The Cougars lost seven players to graduation, including All-PDL Western Conference Honorable Mention, Richie Bindrup.
UP NEXT
BYU will travel to Las Vegas next weekend to face the UNLV Rebels on March 27 at 11 a.m. PT. The BYU women's soccer team will also face UNLV, that same day, at 2 p.m.
FOLLOW THE COUGARS ONLINE
Check out the Cougars on twitter at www.twitter.com/byusoccer or on the official website at www.byusoccer.com.
QUICK FACTS
Who: Brigham Young University vs. Mesa State College
When: Saturday, March 20 at 2 p.m. MT
Where: Walker Field in Grand Junction, Colorado on the campus of Mesa State College
