Who Are These Guys?!

Wow, I wish I could be there!

This weekend I’ve had to follow our UVU Wolverines via Gametracker, which updates a play-by-play text feed about every minute or two. I know we’re in our first year - it's a lot to ask for game coverage when the team is on the road but it sure would be nice to be able to watch this match, or even listen to a radio broadcast.

The team, right now, is making the rest of the college soccer world scratch their heads and wonder, “who are these guys?” Opponents will at the least want to know what the coaches are feeding this amazing young team of theirs, because what they are doing is not normal.

As I write this, I am staring at Gametracker and in the 70th minute of Sunday’s game, we hold a 1- 0 lead on a Matt Gay penalty kick in the 52^nd minute against UC Irvine. I decided to begin writing this now because it doesn’t matter what happens through the rest of this match; what the UVU Wolverines are doing this minute in Las Vegas is just unheard of. They are playing a side ranked in every known college soccer poll – at #4 in the country in the NSCAA Rankings – and doing much more than just holding their own.

This UC Irvine match is the weekend’s encore. On Friday, the Wolverines scored a goal in the 49^th minute and held on for a 1 – 0 victory over a very good UC Riverside team.

If this was a movie, nobody would believe it. At the Division 1 level, a first-year program does not typically step onto the pitch, field, mat, track, diamond and compete with storied, long-established, well-coached teams. It’s suppose to take years to develop a team of this caliber.

[While writing that last sentence, UCI scored an equalizer in the 80^th minute. If the score ends this way, the teams will play overtime, in two 10-minute periods, with a golden goal format.

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I quit writing for a while and watched the text line continue to update. Regulation time ended in a tie and the first overtime period went by scoreless, but UCI put a ball into the back of the net in the 103^rd minute to claim the double-overtime victory. UCI goes to 8-0-1, UVU falls to 4-3-0. This has to be painful for our boys; it’s difficult to come out on the wrong end of this kind of match.]

When I wrote the line above, “it doesn’t matter what happens through the rest of this match,” I thought, as all exuberant fans do, that we were about to pull off a colossal upset – oh so close! It is difficult to measure on Gametracker, but it does not appear that we were in any way outplayed. Irvine, a very experienced team, was able to sneak a shot in, which "surprised the keeper," so they take the W in double overtime. That does not mean the weekend was void of success. We picked up our first win away from home, and we played a top program straight up nose to nose.

Of course, outcomes do matter – winning is the reason we have interest in sport. Every player that laces up their boots and steps onto the field has championship ambitions. I would be ecstatically running around, dancing in the street right now if the Wolverines had pulled off this upset. As it is, I sat and sulked for a moment, and then I tried to put myself inside the head of the coaches. To be honest, if I was a coach on this team I would be crushed that we came so close and did not finish. But I would get on the bus with my players, take a deep breath and would be overwhelmingly proud of what they have already proven. I would want to get home, let my team recover from a tough week’s work, and I would be very hungry to make my way back onto the pitch against our next opponent. As a fan, I can hardly wait for next week’s game.

Since I didn’t get to see the match, I’ll have to save play-by-play analysis until our next contest – I’ll be in the stands to watch the Wolverines take on the Seattle University Redhawks in the opening WAC Conference game next Saturday. Seattle finished first in the WAC last year and did not drop a conference game all season. So opening the conference season with this SU team is one more challenge for our Wolverines. I think our guys will be ready and up to the task. I am sure the match will be competitive, and we are at home.

KSL Article About UVU Soccer

Kickoff this week: 7:00 pm on Saturday Oct 4^th, at Clyde Field – we need to fill the stands.

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Personal Observations

1. It was an amazing week on the UVU Campus. Kyle Beckerman, of RSL and the USMN team spoke on Wednesday. It was a treat to hear him talk about his rise in the soccer world. Beckerman is the consummate journeyman. He is not the biggest, not the fastest, not the most technical. What he has is a work ethic without limit. Everything he has achieved, he has earned. It is gratifying to see an individual like this playing at the highest level of US Soccer. Beckerman’s message to the student body revolved around dreaming big, setting goals, and working hard.

2. I was asked this week why I am writing this blog. I built the shell in January, but to be honest, I did not have a master plan for its use. However, as the start of the season neared, I was bothered by the lack of coverage by our local sports media. RSL has made a big impact on this community – there are a few sportscasters that really do understand the game and speak about it intelligently, but right now they are not paying enough attention to UVU’s newest athletic program. I predict that will change, this team will begin to get more attention, because of the noise they are making on the college soccer landscape. At any rate, when I could not see, hear, or read articles in the local media I decided to write my own.

3. Soccer fans around the world are a unique breed. There is nothing quite like the loyalty that soccer fans have for their team and its colors. Not long ago I watched a piece on a fan of EPL’s Manchester City. They have recently won two Premiere League Championships – including just last season. But before that first win they had gone 75 years without. With that first championship, an elderly gentleman wearing City colors wept openly as the clock reached its end, and City took home its first trophy in decades. That same elderly fan was interviewed after the match – he had been a City supporter all his life, and of course, had never seen them reach the pinnacle before. So why, after years of futility wouldn’t this fan change his allegiance? Manchester United was a perennial winner, and it was close by - why didn't he decide one day to change teams. The answer is, that it’s not what happens in this sport – soccer fans become part of a team family. Soccer loyalty runs deeper than athletic contention. In Scotland the big rivalry is between the Celtics and the Rangers. These two sides split on political, religious, and social lines – fans of both are fiercely loyal to one and loathe the other, and it's generational, it might go on forever. In Spain, a Barcelona fan cannot be a Real Madrid fan – it’s a family feud when the two meet. In Argentina, its Boca Junior’s family and the River Plate family. Even in the US, this attitude is beginning to set in: RSL coaches and management have often spoken about their Utah fans being extended family. This soccer culture, a culture of extended family, will continue to grow at UVU too, until it becomes common and naturally engrained. The fans are very much a part of this team, and here we all wear #12.

4. In my mind, ours is a dream team with unlimited potential. I has accomplished good things already (we are in the top ten nationally in attendance), but the potential is even higher. I think UVU will grow to be the Maryland, or Akron of the intermountain west: a top shelf soccer program with a solid fan base that shows up and brings the passion to each and every match. USA soccer and the NCAA are taking steps to build more long-term relevance into the college game – this is a very good thing for Wolverine soccer. It's good now and it's only going to get better.

(I’ll write soon about the changes under consideration in NCAA Soccer.)

Don't forget - Saturday Oct 4th, 7:00 pm.

Hard Work

Utah –vs– Colorado, the Wasatch Front –vs– the Front Range, RSL and the Colorado Rapids, the UVU Wolverines and the DU Pioneers. All part of our own unique Friday night lights pastime.

On a night when RSL played in front of a sell-out crowd in Sandy, UT, 45 minutes south at UVU’s Clyde Field the stands filled to 240% of capacity to watch their Wolverines play against a nationally ranked side for the first time in its young history.

Even during team warm ups, just watching the Denver players, it was obvious this was a well-assembled team. And once the game kicked off, their #21 national ranking certain looked legitimate. The Pioneers brought a big, polished, skilled, technically sound side to Utah. These guys are good, and from the outset it was clear that if the Wolverines were going to walk away with a result, they were going to have to find a new gear.

Our Wolverines did not disappoint. They looked incredibly sharp in the new black and green kit they wore onto the field, and from the opening whistle they fought just as sharply, playing nothing like a team that only had four complete matches under its belt. In the first half, neither side was dominant, both had forays into the attacking third, but the defenses were up to the task. Denver had chances – it is difficult to shut down such a well-practiced team, but defensive pressure limited their shot opportunities. A couple of trys looked a little problematic, but the ball scooted wide or was blasted high of the frame. Only one Pioneer shot was actually put on frame in the first half – and that was easily handled by Collin Partee. The Wolverines had chances too, with perhaps its most promising scoring chance coming with just a couple of minutes left when Austin Buxton took a shot towards the goal inside the eighteen from the left side. The Pioneer keeper dropped low to take the ball – it was UVU’s second SOG of the first half.

The second half began sharper, both teams seemed more determined and there was extra effort put into winning every 50/50 ball. The Wolverines also played a higher backline, strategically this puts more pressure into the attacking half of the field – but it also means they had to maintain a more disciplined, well shaped defense (it also means more ground covered with every turnover, so players must be in top physical form to play this high line well).

In this game of soccer, the best overall team usually wins. Obviously, there are times when goals are scored against the “run of play,” which keeps the game interesting, and means every once in a while the weaker team wins. When two teams are equal on the field (especially when defenses are strong), it is difficult to score a goal. In those games, goals come only when one team is willing to work harder than the other. It means fighting for every 50/50 ball; it means putting your body between the ball and the defense; it means running and challenging, and running and tackling, and then running some more. While doing all that running, players have to keep their head in the game. They have to know where their teammates are, they have to watch the defense as it constantly shifts, they must perceive weaknesses and get creative to take advantage of them.

There is an eleven minute stretch in the second half of our match that clearly illustrates why the Wolverines will ultimately prevail in this match – and it all has to do with the hard work [HW] they individually and collectively put into their play.

(I hope you can follow this. It would be better if I had an edited video to illustrate each point.)

It starts in the 56^th minute:

 Beginning with a Wolverine free kick, the ball travels from midfield to a dangerous position at the end line just six yards left of the goal. Passes move from Payden Pemberton to Alex Neff to Tyler Brown to Lucas Cawley to Cameron Kidwell, then a long diagonal pass to Paul Hoffmeister (magic in the way The Hoffmeister receives and moves the ball), back to Cawley who tries a cross, which is cleared by Denver [defensive challenges throughout – so it's all HW unrewarded]. Then a throw-in by Neff to Kidwell, a pass to Pemberton, another long diagonal to Matt Gay who runs onto the ball, shoulders off the defense and takes a shot [HW unrewarded as the shot goes wide].

60^th minute:

Denver has possession – but every pass is challenged. Pressure comes from Hoffmeister, Gay, Karson Payton, Cawley, Brown, Neff and Kidwell. Clearing it forward Cawley scoops the ball to Gay who holds off a defender on his back [HW] and plays it back to Payton, who has it taken away from behind [lots of collective unrewarded HW]. One minute later The Hoffmeister takes a cleared ball forward to the edge of the 18, but is dispossessed by two Denver players - their outlet pass is lazy, and a timely step by Pemberton takes it back, feeding it to Payton. Payton ends up ten yards from goal on the right side [HW by all three, unrewarded as Payton seems to snag his toe on the turf and a defender puts a knee into his thigh sending him to ground].

63^rd minute:

Denver possession, The Hoffmeister sprints forty yards to challenge and win the ball [HW unrewarded as he is whistled for a foul – no grabbing, no body blow, he just sprints in front of the Denver midfielder and takes the ball – but the whistle still blows].

64^th minute:

Denver free kick cleared, and Karson Payton sprints with the ball at his feet down the left side, carrying it into a dangerous position. There is a defensive challenge, Payton wins the challenge but is whistled for a foul [HW unrewarded – no comment on the whistle].

65^th minute:

The ensuing Denver free kick is won in the air by the UVU backline. The ball is moving out of bounds, but Karson Payton sprints to the sideline to send it back into play with a bicycle kick [HW]. Austin Buxton sprints onto that ball [HW], and heads it to Matt Gay. Gay heads the ball forward to himself (now a well recognized move), turns as he is met by two defenders [HW], and pushes the ball to Lucas Cawley who has come running [HW] into space. Cawley sets the ball forward with a gentle push then blasts it from 25 yard out into the back of the net! Such a pretty goal, which is scored unassisted because there is the slightest deflection when Gay feeds the ball to Cawley even though it is clearly Gay's boot that moves the ball where it needs to go.

To recap, its eleven minutes of Hard Work unrewarded times nine before we get a magnificent goal. UVU 1, Denver 0, but it only happens because Payton, Buxton, Gay and Cawley all bust their gut to make the last play work.

Denver scores six minutes later, but more Hard Work leads to a Cawley to Buxton to Skyler Milne goal in the 75^th minute. UVU then plays challenge and deny for 15 minutes to close out the match as the Wolverines upset a very, very good Denver Pioneer side.

So much fun to be there. If you happen onto this blog, live in the area, and like soccer or not, you should consider joining the crowd for the next match. There is always room for a few more. The Wolverines next play at Clyde Field on Saturday, October 4 at 7:00 pm.

Personal Observations

I know a lot of people think soccer would be a better game if we saw more scoring. Well, a 5 – 4 match can be exciting, but a 2 -1 final says a lot about the play on field. It means the teams were even, it means there was a lot of passion in the match, it means the crowd never felt comfortable with the lead. It usually means the victory came after a hard-fought struggle. All true in this match – and it’s always just a bit sweeter when it doesn’t come easy.

The Denver side was, in all honestly, very good. Compliments to their number 9, Ryan Dodson, who plays left mid. He did a lot of [HW], and kept Payden Pemberton, Chandler Baddley, and Karson Payton all busy at various times in the match. Dodson and Payton were particularly well acquainted by the final whistle.

The Wolverine forwards continue to play aggressively, the midfield continues to shine and the backline continues to play well organized, working with and for each other. The backline had an especially difficult task this week dealing with 6’7” Denver midfielder, Reid Hukari, who won a lot of balls in the air. The fact that Denver only put two shots on goals is a testament to the Hard Work put in by the UVU defense.

Diego Serna started this match at center mid. He has good vision, quick feet, and an excellent feel for the flow of the game. David Adams came in and played a spirited twenty five minutes, Victor Galindo put in 34 minutes of work in relief. Dillon Richens and Joe Barakat also saw playing time. It was Barakat’s first home game time this season. Coach Greg Maas has both the benefit and the challenge of having a side full of talent and passion. It’s a luxury to be able to give recovery time to some players during the match without seeing a drop in on field play. But it also has to be difficult – I am quite sure he wants to reward everyone on the squad with playing time. From the stands, spectators can hear coach Maas shouting individual instructions, "Payden, tighten it up... Cameron, keep it organized... Skyler, good idea!" 

I feel like I could list every player that took part in the game and chronicle their contribution. This Wolverine side grows a little with every match. They seem to have a very healthy team-first attitude. Everyone contributes.

I am sure the other teams in the WAC have taken notice of what’s happening here in Orem. Several teams in our conference are having a great start. UNLV and Air Force are still undefeated, Seattle looks to have picked up where it left off, having won the WAC and an NCAA Tournament match last year. California State Bakersfield also is off to a fast start. Both Seattle and UNLV will play at Clyde field this year (in fact, UVU and Seattle will meet twice this year), so there are plenty of challenges still ahead for our Wolverines.

Overheard in the stands as the clock was counting down: Twenty seconds remaining with the ball near the far corner on the Denver side of the field, a fan sitting near me stood up and yelled, “Hey, Denver, you should know – we don’t loose on this field!” The field isn't magic though, a lot of things have to go right if you want to upset a ranked opponent. It takes a whole lot of hard work.

Post Game Comments

Entire Game Here

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Huge Challenge next week in Las Vegas. Our young Wolverines play UC Riverside and the sixth ranked UC Irvine. Good luck  - I hope it's broadcast somewhere.

It’s a Good Thing When Nobody Wants to Leave

The match against Gonzaga University at UVU’s Clyde Field Friday night could not have been better. Someone on the team must be living right – after a week of rain, the clouds went away and the weather was picture perfect. Honestly, the on-field atmosphere bristled with energy especially from the student section on the south end of the field.

Five skydivers descended in a deep blue sky delivering a Wolverine flag to Clyde Field’s center circle to start things off. It was a nice demonstration of pinpoint skydiving skill.

The performance of the Wolverine side was every bit as exceptional as the weather and the diving team. They made a few mistakes early in the game – but not as many as you might expect from a team that starts eight freshmen, and only one senior. Some credit for this should be given to Gonzaga - the Bulldogs are a physically strong, technically skilled side. They played a possession-oriented scheme and truly challenged UVU in the early stages.

After the game, coach Maas said, “We knew they were a big, strong team – well prepared, but we made continual on-field adjustments, found our rhythm and improved throughout the first half.”

Chalk it up to good coaching, and a solid, disciplined shape. Of the six shots Gonzaga put on goal in the first half, only two looked dangerous from the stands. Their best chance to score came just 2 minutes after kickoff, but a diving punch save by Collin Partee kept the ball out of the back of the net (his quick leap to his right to parry the shot was easily the most impressive save of the evening by the Wolverine Keeper). Another Bulldog scoring chance came a few minutes later in a scramble right in front of the net ball after a free kick. But the danger was cleared by the UVU defense, denying the shot attempt. By midway through the first 45, the Wolverines had equaled possession and looked to be the more threatening team. A great buildup, ten minutes before the halftime whistle, found Karson Payton running onto a well-placed feed from the right side. His worm-burner towards goal struck just enough of the post to keep it out. 0 – 0 at halftime with chances being equal, but UVU getting the best of the last 25 minutes.

In the 52nd minute, Payton won a ball on the right side near the end line after a long pass had come in from the UVU defense. He fed it back to an oncoming Matt Gay, who scorched it into the goal (if he’d struck it any harder, it might have torn a hole through the net).  The goal bolstered the Wolverine confidence, and for a short time the Bulldog resolve to find an equalizer. Both teams played a physical, hard-charging, hard-tackling twenty minutes of soccer.

The second half was punctuated by moments of elegance by the Wolverine midfield, and a once even game took a turn as the Bulldogs began to wear down. The Wolverine buildup seemed to get more and more dangerous as the game went on. In the 85^th minute Matt Gay took a deflected ball into the attacking third by himself against three Bulldog defenders. He slid to take a hard shot towards goal, just beating the closest Bulldog fullback. The shot, too hot to corral by the Gonzaga Keeper, rebounded to the turf where Gay, belying his size, scampered to his feet to beat everyone, including the lunging keeper. He pushed the ball clear of the crowd and placed it safely into the back of the net.

The last five minutes offered the Bulldogs one last chance to score, but Partee was not really tested.

This game was the culmination of homecoming week at UVU, and a post-game fireworks show topped off the evening. Spectators and team all gathered on the field to watch, but at the conclusion of the fireworks nobody wanted to leave. So they stuck around to celebrate long after the lights and the music were turned off.

For both the long-term soccer fan and the novice, this was a terrific college soccer match. It would have been hard to ask for more.

Game Highlights Here

The Full Game Here

Some Personal Observations:

1. When he is on the field, Matt Gay is a BEAST, plain and simple. When he does come off, Austin Buxton comes in with no visible drop-off on the field of play. Buxton may be even faster than Gay. Both Wolverine forwards put great pressure on the Gonzaga back line.

2. UVU has played a 4 – 2 – 3 – 1 formation (Four defenders in front of the Goal Keeper, five mid-fielders in a 2 back, 3 forward configuration, with one striker at the top). The whole of the UVU midfield, led on the flanks by Paul Hofffmeister and Karson Payton, is fast and skilled.  With Skyler Milne, Lucas Cawley, David Adams, and a few others all playing strong roles (Milne is dominant in the air, Cawley exhibits strong technical skill, and tenacity). They are all beginning to gel as a team - it is fun to watch.

3. Karson Payton does not know how to play in anything but high gear. Paul Hoffmeister is sure he can dribble the ball through any opponent and is often correct – Houdini would be impressed by some of his near magical escapes with the ball still at his feet.

4. The defense, through four matches, looks very solid. It is hard not to be impressed with Alex Neff and UVU’s lone senior Cameron Kidwell – both have size and presence.  Add Payden Pemberton and Taylor Brown who both played well Friday night and things look promising going forward. They support and cover for each other and all have a knack for being where they need to be when things get tight. Certainly none of our defenders ever backs down.

I watch the fullbacks a lot. I think the play of the defense often reflects the mental strength and determination of an entire team. These guys have a bend a little but never break attitude. There have been three goals scored against this group: two off of set plays, and an own goal that was an unfortunate deflection on a hard, difficult, artificial surface.

5. There does not seem to be that much of a margin in skill, speed, or determination when the starters are subbed out. The UVU second string, if that's who they are, is a pretty talented group. I already mentioned Austin Buxton trading minutes with Matt Gay. They are more like Striker 1 and Striker 2, both with a nose for the goal. Others are playing significant minutes too, lead by Diego Serna with 55 minutes in Friday's game.

6. UVU is Extremely fortunate to have Greg Maas and Matt Ellinger.

I had a chance to talk to both briefly after the game. Coach Maas said, “Look at the crowd. Soccer is going to change the culture here at UVU.” I think he is right. The crowd was clearly into this game. Perhaps most promising is an observation in the stands. There was a couple sitting behind me, one of them obviously had a lot of soccer experience, the other was new to the game. The novice asked a lot of questions and seemed quite interested in learning the finer points. We may be growing our own crop of soccer fans. Let's hope so.

7. Speaking of the crowd - it was great. Attendance: 3,209 for this match, and they were really into the flow of the match. I think Orem, UT is going to be a difficult place for opponents to come and play. The crowd and the altitude played a role in the Gonzaga wilt going down the stretch of Friday’s match.

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Next Friday, September 19th, another significant test: Denver University comes to town, and they won’t be affected by altitude. Denver will be the Wolverine’s first ranked opponent. The game starts at 7:30.

This means the fans need to show up and bring the noise. Come early - the stands will be packed; soccer culture really can change UVU.

Growing Pains

Anyone who watches this sport with regularity understands how thin the winning margin often can be.

The UVU men’s team now has three games behind them, and sits at 1-2-0. The women have played six matches, with a record of 3-2-1. Clearly, for the ladies their best win came against Baylor University, who lost to UVU 1-2 on Friday the 29^th, and then beat the BYU women’s team 2-1 on Monday, September 1^st.

The men’s team soundly defeated UMass 5-1 on August 30^th , and outside of about a 15 minute stretch in the middle of the first half, they really controlled the run of play throughout. They then travelled to Chicago and played DePaul University and Loyola Chicago back-to-back on Saturday and Sunday, loosing both matches 0-1.

Paul Hoffmeister feeds Karson Peyton for UVU's first goal

The UMass match was picture perfect – from the weather, to the crowd, to the on-field play - everything was exactly what the Utah County Visitor’s Bureau would have wanted in a night of soccer in Orem. The team looked skilled and strong and  played well together, especially considering it was their first-ever contest. They did not look like a team that was playing its first match.

Traveling to the mid-west though brought the kind of challenges you might suspected a team would encounter their inaugural year. Unfortunately, neither game was broadcast (or, at least, I couldn’t find either one of them). The only information back to us here in Utah was via Gametracker. I’ve followed baseball games through Gametracker before, but this was a first, trying to follow a soccer match that way. To me, following a text line that was updated every minute or two, both matches seemed even. In fact, it seemed the Wolverines had the upper hand by a very slight margin in the Loyola Game. DePaul won the first match on a late set play from about 25 yards out into the upper corner of the goal (the ball hit the post right at the upper corner and deflected into the goal – this came in the 84^th minute). I later saw the goal, posted on the DePaul Athletics website. Honestly, Nick Ramando could not have stopped that goal - the shot was just too much. The loss to Loyola came on a deflected own goal (this too was very late - 86th minute). Ouch. Hate when that happens.

Against Loyola, an early Wolverine goal was disallowed on an offsides call, and a couple of golden chances, including a blast from 8 yards out (saved by the keeper) just did not cross the line.

I am sure the team was disappointed playing 180 minutes with nothing on the scoreboard. But, I feel good about what these two losses tell me. This team, one of the youngest and least experienced in the entire NCAA, held their own against two very good sides. If those same two matches were played again next week, it would not surprise me to see very different results.

Learning to play together, learning to understand one another and learning game-time toughness is part of what this season is all about – especially the pre-conference early season.

This Friday the Wolverines invite Gonzaga University, typically a very good soccer team, to our home field. Here’s hoping 3000+ show up to cheer on the Wolverines - this team deserves support. If you are reading this, and are in the neighborhood, you should come to the game. It kicks at 7:30 p.m., Friday the 12th and is part of the 2014 UVU Homecoming Celebration.