MEN'S SOCCER: Pacific Palisades, Calif. — The Hollywood United Hitmen defeated the BYU Cougars, 3-0 Thursday night. The Cougars drop to 1-4-1 with the loss and have lost four of five after tying to start the season.
Hollywood improves to 3-2-2 and is now tied for second place in the division.
"It's disappointing not being the better team a lot of times," said BYU head coach, Chris Watkins. "The guys certainly worked hard and gave it their best."
The score was tied 0-0 at the half with the Cougars controlling possession and shots. In the second half the Hitmen took a 1-0 lead in the 49th minute when Mutala Mohammed scored the eventual game winner.
It was a one-goal game until the 78th minute when Stephen Akers received a long pass on a set piece that he put up and over BYU goalkeeper, Bryan Black. Esaul Mendoza added a goal in the 86th minute. All three goals were the first scores of the season for those players.
"I thought we played well," said senior midfielder, Brent Jensen. "We pushed through to the end but we need to find that spark to put some goals away and put teams under to start."
Hollywood out shot BYU 10-6 and recorded eight corners to BYU's one. The Cougars now prepare for the 2009 PDL Champion, Ventura County Fusion on Saturday at 8 p.m. MT.