BYU defeated FC Tucson 3-0 in the first game of the 2017 PDL season Friday night at Kino North Stadium.
For FC Tucson and new head coach Jon Pearlman, Friday was practically like the first day of school. Six members of the team return, but many arrived just before the game started.
“It’s hard, especially for the guys just coming in,” said Tate Schmitt, arguably FC Tucson’s top returner. “Their legs are very heavy and for that, it’s hard to get acclimated.”
The lack of chemistry and unfamiliarity could be seen right away: BYU scored on a goal from Blake Frischnecht from the left side of the box after just three minutes.
“Not the dream start we were looking for,” said Pearlman, who took over for Rick Schantz during the offseason. “Unforced errors and we were our own worst enemy tonight.”
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FC Tucson had plenty of chances throughout the first half, but would be half a step or missed pass away from really getting into a good opportunity to score.
“We certainly had three or four or five goals in us tonight,” Pearlman said. “If we could have done that, we could have bailed out our backline some.”
In the 32nd minute, Frischnecht was fouled in the box resulting in a penalty kick for BYU. Frischnecht would score again; he is just returning to the Cougars’ side due to a two year Mormon mission.
BYU’s Connor Fordham was given a yellow card in the 37th minute; the Cougars led 2-0 at halftime.
The second half started promising for FC Tucson. Wedner Delmonte and “Nacho” Teran were able to use their speed and craftiness to create some opportunities but were still not able to reach the net. Tucson was also aggressive defensively as Gordon Hall received a yellow card for a challenge on Frischnecht in the 55th minute.
In the 64th minute, FC Tucson was in the final third looking to score when a volley in the middle of the box came to Danny Musovski as he attempted an athletic bicycle kick but a BYU defender deflected his shot just before it reached the goal.
“Individually, we all had our moments,” Schmitt said. “We just have to be able to put those moments as a team and collectively get them forward, … have the other team defend more.”
BYU’s third goal would come from Cameron McLaughlin in the 75th minute.
FC Tucson had an opportunity late, but Moshe Perez’s shot sailed wide left.
The teams will play again Saturday night at Kino North Stadium.
“I see a lot of bright spots, I see a lot of talent,” Pearlman said. “I see a really dangerous attacking team. … It’s not always great to have back-to-backs, but the best thing for them is to get back on the field tomorrow and right the wrongs we had tonight.”
