Former prep star Lewis Knecht on a mission with UVU soccer before 2-year break

OREM — Lewis Knecht had scored a lot of goals, perhaps too many to count, including a few at America First Field in Sandy when he found a ball at his feet moments after Utah Valley went up 1-0 over Gonzaga in the second match of his collegiate career.

From there, instinct took over.

The reigning Gatorade Utah Player of the Year scored the first goal of his collegiate career Sunday in the Wolverines' 4-0 win over Gonzaga, adding to his impressive tally of 72 goals and 39 assists while winning two 6A state championships with American Fork.

But Sunday's goal was "definitely different," Knecht said.

"It's a whole new level from anything I've played," he added. "It's definitely crazy, and now I'm just trying to focus on the second one. But the first one, I'll always remember it."

Utah Valley (2-0) expects it to be the first many goals for the teenager with a goal and an assist in two matches, both 4-0 wins over CSU Bakersfield and the Bulldogs. The Wolverines will host Florida Gulf Coast at UCCU Stadium on Thursday in a doubleheader with the women's team against California.

But Knecht will get plenty of opportunities for more, head coach Kyle Beckerman said.

"He doesn't care what position he's playing; he just works," Beckerman added. "He's a lot like his older brother; I trust those Knechts. They just work, they've got class and quality, and it comes from a lot of training.

"They've gone at each other a lot growing up, which makes them both really strong. But he keeps earning a lot of minutes."

Acclimating to the collegiate level is important for Knecht, because this fall with Beckerman's team might be his last experience with college soccer for two years.

Knecht opened up his mission call for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints this summer, though the soon-to-be-Elder Knecht bound for Santiago, Chile, won't leave until February.

That gives Knecht a chance to find his game before shelving the boots for two years.

"I just want to do everything I can to help benefit the team, whether that's coming off the bench or starting, getting five minutes or 30 minutes," Knecht said. "I'm just here to help as much as I can my freshman season, and then go and do my service to the Lord."

Knecht recognizes his mindset is something rare.

Ever since the church lowered the minimum age for male missionaries to 18 back in 2012, the majority of male missionaries have left for the mission field immediately after high school. That includes many of his friends from American Fork.

But Knecht, whose older brother Owen is currently serving a church mission in Paraguay before returning to play for Utah Valley, felt that a season of experience and growth would benefit his game before he benefits his spirituality.

"I honestly think I need to learn to develop to this level (first)," he said. "I think playing my freshman year, then leaving and coming back, it helps me know what to expect … and what's there for me when I come back."

Develop, and also play with a team that might just be the best in Beckerman's five seasons at Utah Valley.

The only NCAA Division I men's soccer program on the Wasatch Front could improve to 3-0-0 to start the season Thursday for the first time since 2018, when Beckerman was still in the midst of his 13-year, 377-match career with Real Salt Lake.

The first-time head coach with a career record of 29-27-14 has already built on last season's 8-6-4 campaign, adding to multi-year starters like reigning WAC defensive player of the week Noah Pogue, Keegan Oyler and Alex Fritcher with a trio of former junior college standouts led by forward Nil Grau.

The native of Girona, Spain scored 27 goals with 22 assists in two seasons at Peninsula College in Washington, and the 6-foot-4 playmaking forward had a goal and an assist in the Wolverines' season opener against Bakersfield.

"Part of being a really good team is being a team off the field, as well," Beckerman said. "These guys have really taken to it, bonding off the field and welcoming new guys as quickly as possible so they can play their best soccer.

"The new guys bring something special that the guys here really respect, and know that it's really elevating the group."

Adding arguably the best high school player in the state for each of the past two seasons doesn't hurt, either — even for just one semester before a two-year break.

"I'm super happy with him, seeing his progression," Beckerman said of Knecht. "The ceiling is really high for him."

Related topics