Both Dixie State University and Laramie County Community College looked strong in the opening game of the season, but it was DSU whom ultimately ended up with the victory, scoring two quick goals in the first 10 minutes of play that resulted in a 2-0 final score.
Ethan VandenBosch scored less than two minutes in, and Christian Hall, a freshman business major from Layton, added a second goal seven minutes later as the DSU men’s soccer team beat LCCC 2-0 Saturday night.
“[It was] the first game of the season, and we played really well together,” Hall said. “We are a good team and we are going to continue to move forward.”
“We are extremely confident. We work well together as a team, and we have a great assistant coach,” said Captain Bryan Baugh, a sophomore criminal justice major from Henderson, Nevada. “Our coaches have a great game plan for us. We’ve been working hard in practice, and we’re all set.”
Baugh was an all Pacific West Conference selection in 2014, and he was the only DSU men’s soccer player to make the all-conference team that year. Baugh started all 16 matches for the Red Storm in 2014, mostly playing defense. Baugh was also used for the throw in play often, as well as being used to play close to the net, which helped his team score goals because of his height advantage.
Even with all these tremendous accomplishments, Baugh still remains humble by giving credit to the entire team.
“I think as a team, everyone is important,” Baugh said. “Without each individual person, we wouldn’t be as good as we are.”
Freshman mid fielder Gabe Medina had a good showing in his first ever game, recording an assist on Hall’s goal. Medina played for Virgin Valley High School before coming to DSU, leading the VVHS squad in goals during his senior season. He said he poised to continue his success at DSU, focusing on preparation.
“To prepare for this season, I really tried to make sure I was conditioning and doing the workouts that coach has instructed us to do,” Medina said. “I just want to get into the season already conditioned so it doesn’t slow the team down. We’re trying to really work hard in our practice sessions and get to the pace of play that we need to be at to compete.”
Hall will be another big asset this season. After Medina’s initial shot hit the left goal post, the ball hit Hall in the foot, who then proceeded to blast the ball into the back of the net, beating LCCC goal keeper Hugo Garcia, a Provo native.
“It was a good play from Gabe [Medina], and I just ran to the back post,” Hall said. “I was in the right place at the right time, and the rest is history.”
