Junca, BYU men's soccer team return to playoffs after 7-year absence


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PROVO — Seven years ago, incoming BYU men’s soccer incoming recruit Jonathan Junca watched from the sidelines as the Cougars made a run in the Premier Development League playoffs, losing to the Fresno Fuego in the Western Conference finals.

It would be the last time BYU made the playoffs in Junca's lengthy career — until Saturday.

Junca and the Cougars (7-4-3, 24 points) will face the Southwest Division winner Ventura County Fusion in the first round of the PDL playoffs at 9 p.m. MT Saturday at UNLV’s Peter Johann Memorial Field in Las Vegas.

“When I’d find out we didn’t make the playoffs, I would get emotional,” said Junca, a defender with one goal and four assists in 2014. “It would be very upsetting; I would feel this burden to represent and take this team far. We have all the tools necessary, and people look up to us.

“It’s always been sad. For this to be the first year in the playoffs in my last year, it’s definitely special. I’m very, very appreciative of that.”

PDL Mountain Division winner FC Tucson will face the L.A. Misioneros at 6:30 p.m. MT Saturday. The two winners will face teams from the Northwest Division in the Western Conference semifinals.

The other three teams in the first series of playoffs games count several pro players among their ranks. The Misioneros just sent leading scorer Javier Castro to Oklahoma City Energy FC of USL PRO, the third tier of the American soccer pyramid.

Junca, BYU men's soccer team return to playoffs after 7-year absence
Photo: Abigail Keenan/BYU Soccer

BYU’s players, like all athletes at the university, are unpaid college students — many with day jobs.

“What’s amazing is that those guys gave up so much to come here and pay their own tuition,” BYU coach Chris Watkins said. “Thank goodness for BYU and the great draw that it is, for us to have a good enough program that they are willing to give that up. Those guys shouldn’t have any student loan debt; it’s not right.”

Junca, one of five seniors on this year’s team, joined the squad in June 2007 prior to an LDS Church mission. As an incoming recruit, he didn’t play a minute, but he remembers the team that lost to Fresno, and he’s been motivated to get back.

That motivation has seeped into his coach. Watkins, an assistant coach with the women’s team, said he often planned his practice schedule around players like Junca to get them that postseason bid before they left the program.

“Every day, I’ve told (Junca), I plan practice for him,” Watkins said. “It’s easy for me to get distracted with my other job, but every day I came to practice to make sure Jon went to the playoffs. Jon knows that, and we talk about it pretty often. Jon and I are really happy right now. But Jon wants to play more, and so do I.”

Junca said his relationship with Watkins has been "special" — even more than many player-coach relationships.

“Me and coach, there really is a special bond there,” Junca said. “I get his jokes, I get his personality, and we definitely understand each other. We both have a competitive spirit and a serious drive when it’s necessary. To share this with him is so special.”

Replacing Junca and the sizable senior class will be difficult for Watkins, both for soccer and non-soccer reasons. But the way the class that also includes goalkeeper Brian Hale, Scott Heaton, Jace Green and Colby Bauer will go out is special for the head coach.

“Jon’s incredibly quick, but not incredibly gifted with the ball. He just works hard,” Watkins said. “For him to be able to finish this way is very gratifying, personally.”

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