For the first time in three years, playoff hopes are knocking on the BYU men’s soccer team’s door.

Since the Cougars moved up to the Premier Development League in the United Soccer League in 2003, BYU has not been this close to making the playoffs. However, this season could definitely be different.

“We’re excited,” head coach Chris Watkins said. “We never have been able to talk about the playoffs before this late in the season. It’s a great opportunity for us. With all the poor finishing [games] we’ve had and some poor results we’ve had, to still be able to talk about the playoffs is great for us. It gets the guys excited.”

Although the Cougars have gone 4-7 this season, their playoff hopes are almost a reality. Their main target now is the Fresno Fuego, who ranks right above them in league standings.

BYU showed their stamina against the Fuego last weekend when they slid by them 3-1 in Fresno, Calif. However, Watkins has been focusing his team on attacking the goal offensively after their 2-1 loss to California the following day.

“We just struggle with finishing balls, and if we can get that down, we can beat anyone as we showed against Fresno, one of the top teams in our league and historically the best team in our league,” he said. “We beat them last Friday night, and if we play well and finish balls, we can play with anyone right now.”

Though Watkins also said the Fuego’s recent win over league-leader Orange County has taken some wind out his team’s sails, they are hopeful that Fresno will lose two of their last five games, so that BYU can win four of its last six games and clinch a spot in the playoffs.

Luckily for the Cougars, they host their final six games at South Stadium, starting this Friday and Saturday.

“We’re excited to be at home and play in front of the home crowd,” sophomore midfielder Brock Trejo said. “We usually rise up and play better at home.”

Although BYU hasn’t posted an impressive season at home, 1-2-1, they need to take advantage of their upcoming schedule in Provo.

Fortunately, the Cougars will face three teams that currently hold a low spot in their league. Although BYU may find the biggest fight out of the Colorado Springs Blizzard this weekend, Trejo said he thinks his team can build momentum, going into their final homestands.

“Facing some of those teams toward the end should be good for our record and for playoff chances,” said Trejo, who leads the team in assists with four. “It’s been a steady improvement. It seems like this year we have the capability to put a team in the playoffs that can do something. It’s exciting to see that.”

Another key piece of BYU’s playoff puzzle is junior forward Ken Ojuka, who leads the team in goals along with senior forward Chris Lamb. Watkins said Ojuka has been a catalyst for the Cougars this season and has recently contributed defensively for BYU.

“Ken Ojuka is so strong, so fast,” Watkins said. “He’s attacking well from the back, and he can play with anyone. Ken could move on to the next level if he wanted to in this sport. He’s doing a nice job and finished some balls this past weekend as a defender.”

Because BYU hasn’t sufficiently capitalized on its scoring opportunities this season, Watkins has toyed with the idea of changing the lineup on the front line. These changes could help catapult the Cougars into the postseason.

“We’ll probably change some of our forwards,” Watkins said. “We’ve given them so much rope, so much opportunity to score and put some balls away that they haven’t done. They’re working hard and deserve that success, but it’s just not coming for whatever reason. We have to give other people that opportunity.”

If the Cougars can find success at home in the next three weeks, they could find a huge opportunity on their doorstep in a month.

“We’re in good shape,” Watkins said. “We’ve always played well at home; we’ll get some wins. I’m comfortable with that.”



Copyright Brigham Young University 29 Jun 2005