UVU men’s soccer kicks off season by blowing out Kansas City
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- UVU sophomore Owen Knecht celebrates after he scored a goal during the game against Kansas City at Clyde Field in Orem on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023.
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- UVU freshman Tom Dobek-Pietrowski (3) tries to get to a corner during the game against Kansas City at Clyde Field in Orem on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023.
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- UVU and Kansas City players argue during the game at Clyde Field in Orem on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023.
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- UVU senior Ethan Kovach heads the ball during the game against Kansas City at Clyde Field in Orem on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023.
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- UVU sophomore Abel Mendoza passes the ball during the game against Kansas City at Clyde Field in Orem on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023.
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- UVU players congratulate junior Omar Yehta (6) after he scored a goal during the game against Kansas City at Clyde Field in Orem on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023.
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- UVU senior Leon Olacio tries to get to a ball during the game against Kansas City at Clyde Field in Orem on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023.
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- UVU junior Alejandro Silva takes a free kick during the game against Kansas City at Clyde Field in Orem on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023.
Midway through the first half of Thursday’s season-opener for the UVU men’s soccer team against Kansas City, a car caught fire in the parking lot with flames that were visible from Clyde Field.
While those flames were doused after a few minutes, the Wolverine offense firepower wasn’t stopped that easily.
UVU scored a goal in the ninth minute to seize control, then just kept blasting away on its way to the 4-0 victory over the Roos.
“I just think we stayed together from the start,” Wolverine sophomore forward/midfielder Owen Knecht said. “We got a quick goal and then stuck together. We’re getting our chemistry. Then we got that second goal and seemed like their heads dropped. We just went from there.”
UVU head coach Kyle Beckerman said he felt like his guys did a good job of playing cohesively.
“I thought it was a good performance,” Beckerman said. “We’ve been working for the past two weeks in preseason and we got a lot of new guys, so to see it kind of come together and then put a performance like that, I was really pleased.”
The early score certainly helped, a goal that Wolverine junior midfielder Omar Yehya placed beautifully in the back of the net off a great through-pass from Knect.
“We always want to set the tone,” Beckerman said. “If that’s an early goal or a quick shot in the first quarter, we want to be on the front foot as best as we can. We know it’s not always going to go that way. But these boys just took the message and ran with it today. They were eager I think to really get out and get into a real game. The goals help you your confidence. It helps every part of your game.”
It wasn’t until late in the first half that UVU double its advantage and this time it was Knecht (a former American Fork High star) who was the finisher.
“Kyle (Beckerman) tells us with our pressure to keep our heads up, to keep going and pick off passes,” Knecht said. “Then you can score goals. It looked like their keeper was checking outside the box for the ball, then their right back just passed me the ball. I just passed it into the goal. It might be the easiest goal I’ve ever scored.”
Beckerman lauded both the standout moments and little things Knecht did for his team.
“What he does with the goals and assists are huge, but what he also does the dirty work, the things that aren’t in the stats,” Beckerman said. “It’s just strictly for the team. He’s a team-first guy. He’s got quality and there’s no ceiling for him. I truly feel this kid can go far.”
The Wolverines added its third goal of a great corner kick that sophomore Elijah Gozo headed on frame, forcing a lunging save from the Kansas City keeper. UVU freshman defender Tom Dobek-Pietrowski won the race to the rebound and buried it.
The final tally came when Yehya sprinted all the way down the left sideline, cut past the Roo defender on the end line, then dished the ball to charging senior Ura Miura for the goal.
While the Wolverine offense was sizzling throughout the game, it wasn’t the only thing that got hot. Tempers flared during the contest, resulting in numerous fouls, rough play and six yellow cards.
“Everyone’s going through a bit of fatigue out there,” Beckerman said. “When you’re in that state of fatigue, your mental side goes a little bit, especially if you’re losing. We just got to stay smart. That’s part of the game, learning and not getting in trouble.”
Knecht said as a player he’s just gotten used to that aspect of college soccer.
“I just say keep your head,” Knect said. “Don’t do anything stupid, stick together as a team and you’ll be fine.”
While the players and coaches were happy to start the regular season with a victory, they also know this is just the beginning of a long season.
“We’re always trying to improve for the next game,” Beckerman said. “We’ve got a lot of work to do. This was a good start and hopefully the win will give us a bit of confidence hopefully to get to our top form quicker. But we just got to keep working every day and if we do, that consistency will come. Then hopefully the results will as well.”
Knecht said UVU needs to stay focused on every game, regardless of who they are facing.
“Every game is a fight,” Knecht said. “If we respect every team, we will be perfectly fine. It’s the games that you don’t respect that are the games that are tough.”
The Wolverines next face Western Michigan on Sunday at America First Field in Sandy.
