Lacrosse beats Simon Fraser 16-8

So - I have an article being edited for the Daily Universe but I wanted to get some stuff up online for those die hard Cougar lacrosse fans. Especially the ones who toughed out the snowy first half and the freezing cold second half to watch the Cougars run away with a 16-8 win over Simon Fraser from British Columbia.

Scoring recap (this is what I have in my notes - might not be perfect)
Cougars - Simon Fraser
First Quarter
1-0; 12:45 Shumway unassisted
1-1; 15 for SF
2-1; 4:26 Matheson unassisted
3-1; 3:20 Harding (assist Monteath)
3-2; 16 for SF
3-3; 18 for SF
Second Quarter
3-4; 22 for SF assist to 11
4-4; Harding (assist Monteath)
4-5; 19 for SF
5-5; 9:30 Monteath
6-5; Harding
7-5; 2:42 Matheson
7-6; 16 for SF
8-6; Mathay (assist Monteath)
(4 ties and 3 lead changes in the first half)
Third Quarter
9-6; Shumway
10-6; Matheson
11-6; Cole
12-6; 4:50 Monteath
12-7; 15 for SF
Fourth Quarter
13-7; Monteath (assist Cole)
14-7; Gunderson
14-8; 22 for SF
15-8; Gunderson
16-8; Monteath

BYU had a great offensive attack. As you can see Ted Ferrin didn't have much effect on the score but Simon Fraser had their best defender shutting him down which left guys like Monteath and Matheson in midfield to take the ball to the net and capitalize. Very balanced scoring game again for the Cougars.

I was able to get a couple of post-game interviews with some players and coach Schneck.

Interviews
Pat Matheson
What changed in the 2nd half?
We just turned it up. It was a cold game. Because of the snow I think we were a little slow to get off and going, but once we got the blood moving, once we got things flowing everyone started picking up, getting excited and we put it down their throats.
Did the snow effect the beginning of the game?
Yeah, it was hard to see, the ball gets all wet. When it got colder your pocket would freeze so it would make it hard to pick up the ball and throw and catch, but we were able to adjust our game as needed.

Coach Schneck
What changed there in the second half?
It helped that we were able to clear the field off, we were slipping and sliding a lot in the first half. Our guys, all year long, have had really good 3rd quarters and hopefully we can continue to do that. In the first half we were playing a lot of Simon Fraser's game instead of our own, that's what kept things close. As they started to focus in and do things that we normally do it started to pay off.
Your offense was scoring from all over the place today, what does that say about your offense?
Their number 36, he's their best defender and they put him on Ferrin and he did a great job defending him. We expect that that's going to happen throughout the year. They did a good job of shutting down Ted but then we had other weapons. 
What are you looking forward to improve on?
We didn't really do a great job of being ready to play in the snow like this tonight. 
Did Simon Fraser's fatigue play a factor in this game?
Of course it does. But when you get to the end of the season you don't have the luxury of having days off. Having those types of opportunities to be able to play back-to-back is good for the team. 

No. 4 BYU lacrosse takes on no. 10 Simon Fraser

This article was published in The Daily Universe on February 25th, 2011. 

By: Charles Krebs

No. 4 BYU lacrosse will test its undefeated record against its toughest competition yet in Provo on Saturday against the No. 10 Simon Fraser Clansmen.

Photo by Carolyn Carter. Andrew Harding (midfield) dodges a Boise State player at BYU's men's lacrosse game Saturday afternoon. BYU defeated Boise State 17-3.

Simon Fraser, a school from British Columbia, Canada, is an elite contender, coming off a final four appearance in the Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association championship tournament last season. BYU has won three of the last four meetings against the Clansmen. Last year the Cougars beat Simon Fraser in British Columbia 15-9.

The two teams will face off following a successful BYU road sweep of three games last weekend in California. Senior captain Brian Mathay said the team hopes to carry the weekend confidence into the game Saturday.

“The offense really clicked over the weekend and we’ll take what we can from last weekend and apply it to this game,” Mathay said.  ”We’ll have the confidence and ability to get through the challenges that we’re going to face [on Saturday] because it’s going to be a challenging game.”

The Cougars will face a unique style of lacrosse from the Canadian team.

“One of the things that will make it interesting is that they play a different type of lacrosse than us,” said Pat Matheson, a sophomore from Holladay. “Lots of them play hockey in the winter and lacrosse in the spring. They’re used to playing in closer quarters, so their sticks are fast.”

The game will be at home for BYU, although coach Matt Schneck doesn’t see that as a huge advantage.

“It’s fun for us to be at home and to have our home crowd there,” Schneck said. “A lot of the kids get to play in  front of their friends and family. But besides that I don’t think there is  going to be much of an advantage. They practice early morning just like we do, they practice on turf just like we do. They practice in snow and based on the forecast they’re going to be coming into snow as well. This is a team that’s used to it.”

The Cougars are on limited practice after taking Wednesday to get caught up in classes, and have been practicing outside to get used to the potential adverse weather this weekend.

“I suspect that it’s going to be a very evenly matched game and it’s going to be a real fight,” Schneck said. “They have a great tradition with their team and we expect nothing but a very good game against them knowing that they’re going to bring their very best.”

The game will begin at 5 p.m. on the North University intramural fields this Saturday.

No. 2 Rugby to take on UVU

This article was published on 25th February 2011 in The Daily Universe

No. 2 BYU rugby will take on crosstown rival UVU this Saturday in the first home game of the season.

UVU is a Division II rugby school, but even though they’re not in BYU’s tier of competition, the rivalry will intensify the atmosphere of the game.

“With any school that’s close by you play hard against them,” said wing Alex Hill, a junior from Farmington. “UVU will come out and play hard and tough. They probably have a gameplan and they’ll play to that. I think it will be a hard fought game.”

The coaches are telling the team not to get caught up in the emotion of the rivalry.

“Typically when we’ve played UVU emotions from both sides tend to get away from players,” said assistant coach Kimball Kjar. “[But] you gotta make sure that you execute, work hard and do all the little things that will end up being in the scoreline when the game is over.”

The Cougars are not concerned about the victory or even the score of this game according to Kjar.

“We’re concerned about playing at the proper level — executing correctly, making sure all our systems are in place and clicking on all cylinders. Making sure that everyone’s roles and responsibilities are understood,” Kjar said.

An important aspect of this game is the opportunity it will give BYU to fine tune its gameplan before heading to Rio Tinto stadium and playing no. 6 Utah in the Wasatch Cup next weekend.

“It’s the last game before our big game against Utah,” Kjar said. “We want to make sure that we get a good game. We want to make sure that our guys are prepared when they play against Utah.”

This game will provide a chance for some of the second team for BYU to play in a first team scenario and to gain in-game experience.

“As a team we’re looking forward to getting more experience, getting more fluidity with the personnel and with our plays. Any game, no matter who you play, helps you become better; whether you win by one hundred or lose by one hundred,” Hill said.

The game will cost $3 and will take place at the South Field at 2 p.m. Saturday.

BYU rugby ranked 2nd in latest poll

The BYU rugby team stayed in 2nd for the season behind perennial powerhouse Cal. BYU will play UVU this weekend in Provo and Utah next weekend in the Wasatch Cup - make sure to check out their games. 




Feb 21, 2011 RUGBYMag.com College Premier Rankings
1 (1) Cal 8-0 (15-0) Beat U. British Columbia 21-132 (2) BYU 5-0 64-0 over Penn State (9), 89-8 over Cal Poly (17) Feb 11-12
3 (3) Life University 5-0 Beat Navy (19) 32-174 (5) St. Mary's 6-0 (10-1) Beat U. British Columbia 34-19
5 (4) Arkansas State 2-0 (1-0) Beat Arkansas 78-56 (7) Utah 4-0 (7-2) Beat Penn State (9) 46-12 Feb. 11 
7 (6) Army 0-08 (8) Dartmouth 7-0 
9 (10) Central Washington 2-1 Beat Oregon 64-0 10 (9) Penn State 2-2 (3-3) Lost 64-0 to BYU (2), 46-12 to Utah (7) Feb. 11-12, 
11 (11) Delaware 7-3 Beat Maryland 20-1012 (13) Arizona 5-1 Beat SDSU (12) 36-34
13 (12) San Diego State 1-2 Lost 36-34 to Arizona (13)14 (14) LSU 2-0 (3-0) Beat Mississippi State 49-7, beat New Orleans RFC 23-12
15 (15) Arizona State 1-1 Beat Claremont Colleges (29) 41-1216 (16) Kutztown 
18 (19) Navy 0-1 Lost 32-17 to Life (3)19 (17) Cal Poly 3-1 Lost 89-8 to BYU (2)
19 (18) Texas A&M (1-1) Lost 44-10 to Dallas Harlequins20 (20) UCLA 4-2 Beat Claremont Colleges (29) 52-0 
21 (21) Tennessee 7-0 (7-1) Beat Miami (OH) 48-2422 (25) Oklahoma 1-0 Beat Kansas State 53-12
23 (22) Colorado State 0-2 Lost to Colo. School of Mines, Northern Colorado24 (23) Colorado 1-1 (0-2) Lost 50-19 to Denver Barbarians
25 (24) Air Force 0-3 lost 90-0 to Cal (1) Feb 1226 (26) Wyoming 1-2 Lost 107-5 to Cal (1) Feb 11
27 (27) Notre Dame 3-1 (5-1)28 (28) Ohio State 1-0 (1-1) Lost 62-17 to Atlanta Renegades Feb. 12
29 (30) UC Davis 3-4 Played Sacramento Capitals club30 (29) Claremont Colleges 0-5 Lost 52-0 to UCLA (20)
31 (31) Rutgers

Jazz fans have mixed feelings about trade of Williams

This article was published on 23rd February 2011 by http://sportsuniverse.byu.edu/?p=4015.

By Charles Krebs

The Utah Jazz traded two-time All-Star Deron Williams to the New Jersey Nets in a franchise-changing deal on Wednesday.

Photo by Associated Press. Utah Jazz Deron Williams talks with the media after NBA basketball practice, Friday, Feb. 11, 2011, in Salt Lake City.

In exchange for Williams, the Nets handed over rookie forward Derrick Favors (6.3 ppg), who was picked third overall in the draft last year, and point guard Devin Harris (15.0 ppg), the 5th pick in the 2004 draft and a one-time All-Star.

The Jazz also received two first-round draft picks in the deal – one for 2011 from the Nets and one for 2012 from Golden State – along with $3 million.

Williams’ contract was set to expire at the end of the 2011-2012 season, with an option to stay one more year if he desired.

The Jazz lost Jerry Sloan, their 23-year head coach, two weeks ago and Williams faced criticism that he was part of Sloan’s decision to leave, although both deny the claims.

Jazz fans have mixed feelings about the loss of Williams, who has played for Utah since he was drafted third overall in 2005.

BYU sophomore Owen Hullinger, a resident of Roosevelt, was not pleased after hearing the news.

“That’s devastating to me. Deron Williams is one of the best point guards in the league. I don’t know how anyone could replace him for the Jazz,” Hullinger said.  ”Now it’s almost like I don’t even know who’s on the Jazz anymore with Boozer gone too.”

Not all Jazz fans were disappointed; many were elated by the news.

“I think we got the better end of [the trade],” said senior Ryun Zobell from Orem. ”It gives [the Jazz] a better chance to rebuild in the right direction, with unselfish players.”

The Jazz are 0-3 since Jerry Sloan left and will be looking to improve with this trade. For many this was a trade the Jazz just couldn’t pass up.

“It’s a great trade,” said BYU graduate student Mike Rutkowski. “They weren’t going to resign Williams and any time you can get a good player, a guy drafted in the lottery and extra draft picks, then it’s a good trade.”

The Nets have the sixth-worst record in the NBA, enhancing the likelihood the Jazz will receive a lottery pick in this year’s draft. The Jazz are still in the hunt for the playoffs with the eighth-best record in the Western conference as of Wednesday afternoon.

No. 4 BYU lacrosse sweeps California road trip

This article was published in The Daily Universe on the 23rd of February, 2011. 

Three road wins in four days, including two over top-20 opponents in California, brought the lacrosse team back to Provo with a perfect 4-0 record.

On Friday, the Cougars handled No. 15 Loyola Marymount University 16-10. The next day BYU ran over the No. 19 Cal Bears, 15-6, then finished the weekend trip with a 15-1 win against Claremont on Monday.

According to captain Ted Ferrin, this is the first time the Cougars have come back undefeated from California since he’s been at BYU.

For Ferrin, the highlight of the weekend was the win against California on Saturday. The field was wet and sloppy and the rain kept coming but the Cougar defense led a staunch team effort to fuel the victory.

“Cal was the best game,” Ferrin said. “That was the game that defensively [the team] just played awesome.”

Coach Matt Schneck agreed.

“[The Bears] were definitely the toughest team of the three teams we played, and we executed extremely well,” Schneck said. “It was a rainy, muddy, sloppy field and we still did what we needed to do to execute.”

BYU has scored at least 15 points in every game this season, showcasing its offensive prowess. The offense for the Cougars has improved this season under the leadership of Ferrin, who scored 10 goals over the weekend and added 12 assists. Ferrin leads the MCLA in assists-per-game with four.

However, Ferrin insists the key to the offense isn’t him, it’s unselfish play from the whole team.

“Last year we had just as much talent as we have this year, but this year the one thing that really stands out is unselfishness,” Ferrin said. “When we pass it around like crazy it’s really hard for the defense to communicate enough to guard us. Everyone on the team decided that they didn’t care about their statistics. We had so many times this weekend where a player made the extra pass.”

Another top-10 match will take place this week as No. 4 BYU takes on No. 10 Simon Fraser Saturday at 5 p.m. on the intermural north field.

Photos courtesy of William Nixon

BYU hands it to LMU; wins 16-10

BYU (No. 6) beat Loyola Marymount (No. 15) 16-10 yesterday in a rainy and wet match in Los Angeles.


The weather might have been sloppy but the Cougars definitely were not. They showed their strength and came out on top of a tough LMU team. 


"LMU is definitely a good team with good coaching and some talented players. I think they're going to have a good season. I think that we just had a really good game yesterday. It's the type of game that you hope you can have every time you play," Schneck said. 

The Cougars didn't wait to jump ahead with a 5-1 first quarter. They added two more scores in the second as LMU adjusted their defense. It was just too hard to stop all of BYU's scoring threats with seven of eight first half goals coming from different players. 


In the third BYU scored seven goals (almost matching their first half total) and took a 15-4 lead to put LMU away before heading into the fourth with their second team. 


The second team allowed a six goal run in the fourth and scored once to move the final score to 16-10. 


"Going into the fourth quarter we had a 15-4 lead. [The first team] had done everything we asked them to do. Offense was doing great, defense was doing great and face-offs were great. As a coaching staff we took that opportunity to get some of the younger guys an opportunity to play in the 4th," Schneck said. 


He said it wasn't fair to the younger players to have to go in cold and wet after sitting on the sidelines for three quarters, but that is the nature of the game. He was glad to have them tested in a realistic game-time situation. 


"We have to get to the point where we can feel confident playing that younger group of guys so that we can use them in important and critical times of games," Schneck said. 


11 different players scored for the Cougars. The stats have yet to be released for the game. 


They play Cal today in what promises to be a very difficult game in another rainy and wet situation. 


"We expect that the game against Cal is going to be an even tougher game than yesterday, based on what Cal has done against other teams," Schneck said. 


Cal beat a strong Oregon team earlier in the season (Oregon was No. 7) and has proved that they are a legitimate contender in the MCLA this year. 

"We are fully expecting that this is going to be a fight today, it's going to be a very tough game," Schneck said. 

1st half update on BYU/LMU lax game

BYU has started out well in a wet game. BYU played a great first quarter taking a fast 5-1 lead and then slowed down in the second only scoring three times. They have the halftime lead 8-3. The first seven goals came from different players. BYU couldn't capitalize on a man-up situation late in the second but held the lead into halftime.

1) Gunderson
2) Shumway
3) Ferrin
4) Matheson
5) Walker
End of 1st
6) Houghton
7) Cole
8) Houghton

Check back for more in depth stats and analysis after the game.

BYU v. Loyola Marymount lacrosse preview

Today's game against Loyola Marymount is not only the Cougars' first road game but it is their first real test of the season.

Loyola Marymount is ranked 15th in the nation (MCLA) and will give the Cougars a run for their money. You know a No. 6 v. No. 15 match-up in basketball would warrant the game prime time on ESPN, but because it is Lacrosse the hype isn't quite the same.

The ranking might be a good basis for us as fans to go off of, but we have to remember that these are just preseason rankings for the most part. Loyola's only win has come against San Diego State which was an expected win, just as the Cougars win over Boise St. was not a surprise. So neither of these teams have faced top competition this season which means the pollsters don't really know where they fit in.

Wasatch Cup is coming! (press release about their sponsors)

You have to be kidding me. I just read that the Utah v. BYU rugby match last year at Rio Tinto stadium had over 7,500 people in attendance, that's amazing. I am so excited to be there and to cover the action with a press pass! This game will be for the Wasatch Cup and it's a bitter rivalry.

With a little more than two weeks until the game (don't forget about the UVU game in between there), the Wasatch Cup has announced this years sponsors - Zions Bank, Utah National Guard and Humless.

To find out more read the press release pasted below - but get your tickets because it's going to be an intense rugby match from start to finish.