PARK CITY — It's not surprising the Utah Blitzz didn't have much difficulty Sunday adjusting to their most recent home field — Trailside Park. After all, when you've called five other locations along the Wasatch Front home in the past five years, a change of scenery is no big deal.
Playing on a nearly flawless playing surface in Park City, the Blitzz beat the Nevada Wonders 3-1 in a match originally scheduled for Wendover, Nev.
"I'd say the man of the match is Park City and this field," said Blitzz coach Chris Agnello. "This field is as good as I've seen anywhere in the country."
Utah returns to the synthetic confines of Rice-Eccles Stadium for a game this Friday, but in the next five days the Blitzz will be receiving a major makeover.
Even though the Blitzz are in first place in the Pro Select League's Western Division and gearing up for a third-round U.S. Open Cup match, Agnello isn't content with his squad. That's why the Blitzz expect to sign as many as five new players in the coming week.
Trevor Persson is a defender who's been training with the Los Angeles Galaxy this year.
Matt Mitchell is a goalie from Colorado Springs of the PDL. "We were so impressed with him when we played them, we brought him in," said Agnello.
Jason Boyce is a speedy left flank player formerly of the Colorado Rapids of the MLS.
Chris Rosseli is a talented young player from the Orange County Blue Stars, a team that beat Utah two weeks ago.
Byron Carmichael is one of the top goal scorers in the PDL with the South Jersey Barons. He, however, has played a U.S. Open Cup game with the Barons, and is ineligible to suit up for the Blitzz during their June 30 Open Cup third-round game with Portland.
"I'm not looking for guys who can beat Nevada and other PDL teams. We want to compete against MLS teams," said Agnello.
He just doesn't see that happening with his current squad.
After starting Sunday's game rather sluggishly, the Blitzz settled into a confident rhythm which helped Matt Evans and Rich Breza notch goals in the final 15 minutes of the first half.
The Blitzz seemed complacent with the 2-0 lead as they struggled to test Nevada's keeper early in the second half. Ultimately, it was a second-half substitute that injected some energy into the lethargic Blitzz.
Ariel Bravo made an excellent 30-yard dribbling run toward the penalty area before being dreadfully tackled in the box by a Nevada defender. Another substitute, Matt Broadhead, buried the 73rd-minute penalty kick that should've all but iced the game.
With a deeper bench, Agnello may have been more confident in the lead. However, as he said, "when I'm making changes, I'm crossing my fingers."
Agnello was particularly nervous in the final five minutes.
In the 85th minute, Utah keeper Chad Sackett was caught way off his line as Nevada's Sam Sneed headed in a cross from Landon Rosser. Just 60 seconds later, Utah's central defenders let Nevada's Stanton Smith slip behind them and unleash a 12-yard shot that banged off the crossbar.
What was once a 3-0 lead nearly became a 3-2 lead with four minutes remaining.
"Instead of riding out a comfortable win, we allow a silly goal, and as a result we scratch and claw our way to the end," said Agnello.
E-mail: jedward@desnews.com