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PROVO — The BYU men’s soccer team doesn’t compete in the NCAA against fellow universities.
Instead, the Cougars operate a franchise in the Premier Development League, the fourth division of semi-pro soccer under the U.S. Soccer Federation.
Such a course has its advantages, like playing in the spring and summer, when the Cougars have South Field and much of campus to themselves. But it also has disadvantages, like a lack of scholarships and funding provided to the other extramural sports like rugby and lacrosse.
This year, BYU soccer players will have another advantage to its schedule: the chance to play an international tournament.
The Cougars have been selected to represent the United States in the World University Games in Taipei, Taiwan. The games, which will begin Aug. 19 and run through the end of the month, will allow 20 players and nine coaches and support staff to compete against national teams from around the world in the every-two-year competition.
“How often do you get to play against France, Italy and representatives of the countries?” said BYU coach Brandon Gilliam, who took over for longtime head coach Chris Watkins two years ago. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance for most all of us, and it’s super exciting. We’re looking forward to it.”
Before the international tournament, BYU will play its PDL season, which begins May 5 at FC Tucson and commences at home June 3 against the Albuquerque Sol. The Cougars wrap up the spring portion of their season at home Saturday at 6 p.m. MDT against a club team from the University of Utah.
Our SEASON PASS SALE is this Saturday, April 15th, the same day we play Utah! Season passes are just $12 this day only. Mark your calendars! pic.twitter.com/5YqObwH1Hu
— BYU Soccer (@byusoccer) April 12, 2017
All of the work of the preseason and league play will give the Cougars added motivation when it comes to playing Aug. 19-30 at the World University Games.
“Everybody has that in their minds, and it’s extra motivation to perform well and prove that we belong at that stage,” forward Josh Hunter said. “I don’t think the guys would want to put on a uniform if they aren’t ever fully prepared to play.”
The United States sends a variety of teams to the games every two years; Bill Self and Kansas recently took a squad of mostly Jayhawks to the event two years ago, and BYU has sent individual athletes like track star Shaquille Walker to represent the United States in the past.
But BYU won’t just be the USA’s representative in this year’s event. The Cougars will wear red, white and blue. Unlike other sports, where athletes represent their universities as well as their countries of origin, soccer players from BYU will only be representing the USA.
BYU has policies preventing sponsorship of the team for reasons like the potential of playing on Sunday.
When Gilliam told his players about the complication, the players took a vote. Most of them still wanted to go; playing international soccer in Taiwan was too great of a chance to pass up.
They are confident they can compete with the top college-aged amateur athletes in the world.
“The hardest part about it isn’t the style of play or how fast it goes,” Gilliam said. “You’re playing against people where winning is everything; in the PDL, you want to win across a whole season. This is just a tournament — every game is on the line. Once you step into your first game with a loss, then you’re done. You have to play catch-up.”
To go to Taiwan then, Gilliam and U.S. Soccer helped found U.S. Collegiate Soccer, a nonprofit organization dedicated to sending a team to the University Games every two years. Most college teams can’t accept an invitation to the event; the NCAA fall season begins as the August-based competition is getting warmed up.
BYU’s position as a college team playing in the PDL doesn’t have such complications. Players like Seth Fankhauser, Taylor Watkins and Christian Guthrie are already listed on the roster. The rest will come from BYU, as well as additions via local tryouts at the request of Gilliam and his coaching staff.
“I think it’s a unique opportunity for the guys on the team,” Hunter said. “There are quality players from all over the world, and it’s a unique opportunity for us to participate and represent the U.S. in these games.”
Because BYU can’t support the team under the new banner of U.S. Collegiate Soccer, the Cougars will also be raising money from now until the end of PDL play to finance the trip. Gilliam has set up a crowdfunding service at rallyme.com* to help subsidize the costs, and they’ll plan other fundraising efforts during the year.
Yes, BYU will benefit directly from the new organization. But if all goes according to plan, U.S. Soccer will also benefit for generations to come by sending representatives to the World University Games year after year.
“We want to build this, not just for this year, but for future years,” Gilliam said. “Yes, it will help our own players and those who play at BYU — but also players who will go on to play at other (schools) and make it so the United States can send a team every two years.”
*KSL.com does not assure that the monies deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisers and otherwise proceed at your own risk.
