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PROVO — To say that Payden Pemberton’s first goal in a BYU soccer uniform meant a lot would be an understatement. In fact, it couldn’t have been much better.
Pemberton’s marker in the 58th minute helped see the Cougars to a 1-1 home draw against the Las Vegas Mobsters at South Field for their fourth result in five matches in Premier Development League play.
Even better, Pemberton’s first official tally came against his former club. The Payson native played for the Mobsters just two years ago before enrolling at BYU and making the extramural club team this spring.
“Coming against these guys, I know several and I know the coaches,” Pemberton said. “The last time we played them, they were all over me and yelling at me.
“To come out here and knock one in to go up 1-0 was fantastic. That celebration was just an expression of that emotion.”
After a scoreless first half that saw BYU outshoot Las Vegas 4-1, the Cougars came out after the break with fire. They controlled possession for long stretches of the game and looked over a corner kick just about 15 minutes into the half.
That’s when Pedro Vasconcelos saw something. He quickly made eye contact with Pemberton, faked as if he was going inside, then slotted a back heel pass to the first-year midfielder to tuck inside the left corner under a sprawling Las Vegas goalkeeper Daniel Diaz.
.@byusoccer's Payden Pemberton with a 🚀 from outside the box against @LVMobsters! 🔥 #Path2Prohttps://t.co/manWEvWHaj — USL PDL (@USLPDL) June 3, 2016
Afterward, pure pandemonium erupted as Pemberton’s teammates mauled him near the midfield line, shoving him to the grass.
“I knew they were coming,” Pemberton said. “I was there first, and I just felt pure adrenaline running to the side. I knew they were coming over.”
Even more impressive than the strike was the setup by Vasconcelos, who assisted on his first goal of the season.
“He’s had a couple of those early on in the preseason but hasn’t had any yet in the PDL. He’s capable of that, and the great thing is that they recognized it,” BYU coach Brandon Gilliam said of Pemberton’s goal. “We had a lot of numbers in the box, and instead of serving it, he was free and by himself outside. He recognized that, and put it away.”
Still, the Mobsters wouldn’t go away empty-handed. After putting up just two shots on target during the 90-minute stretch, Las Vegas pulled back a goal through Josh Guzman’s strike in the 88th minute. The second-half substitute found just enough space in the final two minutes to loft a ball that squeezed inside the left post for the equalizer.
BYU had chances to put the game away, outshooting the Mobsters 5-2 on frame, but one chance was all Las Vegas needed.
“That’s the hard part. You control a game, but even when you do, at this level games are won and lost on moments,” Gilliam said. “We produced a lot, but we didn’t put enough goals away and it hurt us in the end.”
Because the Cougars are disappointed with a draw shows how far the team has come. A year ago, BYU had just one win on the season — a formal three points after Colorado didn’t travel for the final game of the regular season and both teams eliminated from playoff contention.
BYU opened the season with a tie and a draw in California, but rebounded with back-to-back wins over Las Vegas and Burlingame two weeks ago. The 3-2 loss to PDL Central Pacific Division-leading San Francisco City FC was a rarity as the Cougars took points from four games in 2016, one more than all of the 2015 season combined.
But what happened last year doesn’t matter, said Gilliam, who took over for longtime head coach Chris Watkins after last summer.
“As a group, after last year, we cut it free. We didn’t look at it again,” Gilliam said. “Everything we gauge is not off last year, but what we are capable of this year. This team is capable of a lot, and that’s what hurts. That’s why they are disappointed, and their heads are down.
“They know they are capable of a lot more. Even if they score that goal, that game should’ve been 3-1.”
Watch a full replay of the game on live.ksl.com or in the embedded video above.
