One thing hindering the growth of men's soccer at the collegiate level is few conferences sponsor the sport. Several Division I NCAA conferences — including the Big 12 and SEC — do not offer men's soccer at all. And a majority of schools in others who sponsor it — such as the Pac-10 — do not have a men's soccer team.

Locally, scheduling and travel would offer challenges to adding the sport. Only four Mountain West schools — UNLV, New Mexico, Air Force and San Diego State — offer men's soccer. The Big Sky (Sacramento State) and the WAC (San Jose State) each have one member school on the pitch.

Once other economic factors are considered, adding any nonrevenue sport — even if it enjoys substantial community support — is a tricky proposition.

"It's a lot more expensive to add a sport than people understand," Hill said. "There's the scholarships. There's the salaries and benefits for your coaches. And then there's the travel and equipment and having places to practice and play."

Building a better future for men's soccer at a collegiate level may lie in finding alternative models for competition. BYU has thrived since moving from the club soccer ranks to the PDL. Cougars head coach Chris Watkins said the team looked for new ways to challenge itself after dominating the club scene for the better part of a decade and decided a move to the semi-pro PDL was the answer.

"We wanted to be able to challenge ourselves as best we could," Watkins said. "Becoming an NCAA team really isn't under our control."

BYU has enjoyed support from the fans and the school administration throughout its foray into the PDL. The Cougars are also drawing more in-state and out-of-state talent than ever before — chiefly because they offer something more than the typical club experience.

That was a major selling point for Mike Moreno when he weighed going from Mountain View to Provo against going to college in California or elsewhere. At BYU, he said it feels like he and his teammates are playing with a purpose.

"It makes you want to play well," Moreno said. "It makes everyone want to win and just gives that drive that I don't think just a club can give. The PDL is just a higher level."

Moving to a higher level has also sparked a surge of interest in Dixie State's men's soccer program even before its inaugural NCAA season. The Rebels have drawn players from Hawaii to Illinois — in addition to several Utah kids — looking for the opportunity to earn a scholarship or even walk-on with a full-fledged college team.

Dixie State men's soccer coach Danny Ortiz said the positive response in the community has been overwhelming. Having a team feels like a natural step, Ortiz said, as participation in soccer continues to surge in the youth ranks.

"It's long overdue," Ortiz said. "We have some quality young men playing soccer in Utah. It will be nice to get them some exposure on a national stage as far as college sports go."

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E-mail: jcoon@desnews.com