BYU NewsNet - RSL Reserves Play Cougs at New Stadium

Since the rise of Major League Soccer throughout the United States and Canada, the push has been on for each franchise to own a soccer-specific stadium and the rights in it.

Some states have eagerly embraced the rising soccer culture by providing the means to a stadium, while others have held back in hopes "the passing fad" would roll by them.

Utah is in the former category.

Real Salt Lake will send its Reserve team to Provo tonight to help the Cougars christen a brand new soccer field in advance of the team's stadium christening in Sandy this October. Both of these squads know the advantage, for players and fans, of a soccer-specific stadium.

"You always want to have a good pitch," RSL reserve midfielder Alex Nimo said. "The better the field, the better your team moves off the ball. You can play the ball quicker."

Nimo and the rest of the RSL Reserve roster are excited for the BYU game, the team's second of the season. Because of the short nature of the MLS Reserve season (12 games in 10 months), adding "extra games" against teams like BYU and the Ogden Outlaws is crucial for some Reserve players.

"It helps a lot because we have 26 players, some of whom rarely play [outside of Reserve games]," Nimo said. "Having two teams only 45 minutes away is huge to be able to keep your fitness up."

One RSL player who knows all too well the disadvantages of lower fitness is midfielder Nate Sturgis.

Sturgis made a recent comeback from an injury, playing the final few minutes in RSL's win over Columbus. The midfielder has battled a hamstring injury since the beginning of the season, but looks to gain back some of what he lost in tonight's match.

"It's good to have teams like [BYU] in your area so that the guys who don't play on the weekend can get a game in during the week," Sturgis said. "It's about keeping their match fitness up, in the event that you do get in on the weekend."

Nevertheless, Sturgis isn't taking BYU lightly.

"We know that they're going to come out with a lot of energy," Sturgis said, "especially wanting to play us and prove that they can play at our level. Plus, they'll have more motivation to play well in their new stadium."

According to Sturgis, the new field at South Stadium isn't the only thing that could give BYU an edge.

"To have a stadium that is your own will always give you pride," Sturgis said. "It's having a place to call your own that can make all the difference."