PROVO — There's plenty of good news this season for the BYU soccer team, including its best finish ever in the PDL at 9-6-1. In addition, that record is good enough to qualify the Cougars for the PDL playoffs.
Despite the overall good season, the Cougars dropped their final regular-season game to Ogden, 2-1, Saturday night at South Field. The loss contributed to a late-season slide that included losing three out of their final four games, all at home. The Cougars' last win was against Ogden, all the way back on July 1.
"I was really disappointed in our play, especially in the first half," said coach Chris Watkins. "We don't control our destiny any more. With everything on the line I thought they'd come out a lot stronger than they did."
A win would have assured the Cougars of an outright first-place finish in the Northwest Division of the PDL. As it is, either Yakima or Abbotsford could tie the Cougars by winning their final two games. Those teams played each other Saturday night, but the result was not available at the newspaper's deadline.
Watkins is convinced that some of the Cougars' late-season woes stem from a lack of confidence.
"Guys on the team are blaming each other," said Watkins. "Late in the season everyone's convinced that it's something besides them."
Ogden's winning goal came in the 85th minute when the Outlaws were awarded a free kick just outside the 18 on a questionable BYU foul. Bruno Baca took the free kick and led Brett Shimizu on a pass down the right side of the box. Shimizu crossed the ball to Stephen Phillips on the opposite side of the box for a header into the goal.
Ogden scored first in the 20th minute when Jordon Carver headed a pass from Zach Burton for the goal.
BYU's only goal came on a beautiful kick by Jake Cavanaugh, who went one-on-one with Outlaw defender Kenan Powell down the right side of the box. Cavanaugh's kick fell just inside the far post, which tied the game at 1-1 in the 27th minute.
Ogden finished its inaugural season with a 5-9-2 record. The Cougars open the playoffs on Friday at home. If they win, they'll play another opponent Saturday night for the Western Conference PDL championship.