BYU does just enough for win over Ogden

WASHINGTON TERRACE — BYU's men's soccer team didn't produce the performance it wanted to against arch-rival Ogden on Wednesday, but the Cougars got the result they needed.

Aside from a decent 15-minute stretch at the beginning of Wednesday's match, the Cougars hardly got out of first gear at any point the rest of the way. However, captain Richie Bindrup scored a sweetly-struck free kick in the 72nd minute, and the Cougars emerged with an important 1-0 win over the Outlaws.

On several occasions this summer, BYU has played plenty of fantastic soccer but didn't get the result it wanted or needed. Accordingly, you could hardly blame the Cougars for feeling good about the fact that got three critical points on a night where they struggled to get going.

"It wasn't quick soccer by any means, but a win's a win," said Bindrup. "You've just got to dig deep, get a W and sometimes that's what it's all about."

On Wednesday, that's certainly what it was all about for the Cougars, and afterward, BYU coach Chris Watkins echoed those sentiments.

"We did just enough to win," he said. "I'm not sure the fans got their money's worth tonight. It was an ugly game. I thought it was the worst game we've played all season, so we're a little disappointed in that."

"Literally," Watkins added, half-jokingly, "if I were a rich guy, I'd give everyone their money back."

As it turned out, Wednesday's critical moment arrived in the 72nd minute.

On the heels of several half-chances by the Outlaws, BYU won a free kick deep in Ogden's half and slightly to the right.

Bindrup, a left-footer, usually takes those free kicks, and his instinctive decision when he took this particular free-kick made all the difference in the world for BYU.

Noticing that stellar Ogden 'keeper Jeff Rogers was cheating slightly to the near post, Bindrup unleashed an outstanding free kick that swerved just inside the far post.

"It's a guessing game with that 'keeper. I've played with Rogers before (at Olympique Montreux)," said Bindrup. "I felt like he was cheating towards the near post — I'm a lefty, so I can swing that ball and dip it in towards the near post. So he cheated, and I just picked the right spot to go to."

From there, BYU simply held on to get the victory and keep its PDL postseason hopes alive.

"We still have a chance for the playoffs," said Watkins. "We have all of our (remaining) games at home now, and we feel good about our team."

On the other hand, Ogden, which was struggled mightily in 2009, felt better about its performance on Wednesday than it has about some other performances this summer.

"I thought we played harder than we have," said Ogden assistant coach Mike Hickman. "I thought, compared to the last time we played these guys, we went at them. I think we took it to 'em at times. Those are things we've got to do consistently to be good at the game."

BYU and Ogden will meet for the fourth and final time of 2009 Saturday at BYU's South Field, beginning at 7:30 p.m.

E-MAIL: drasmussen@desnews.com