The Tacoma Tide have never gotten a point on their venture down to Utah. 2006 brought two losses, 2007 brought two losses against Ogden and BYU, and 2008 yielded two big wins. Two nights in a row, the Tide battled for a one goal victory over their Utah based opponents. In hot weather, the Tide needed an entire team effort to hold onto a slim lead for the win.
The Tide players are gelling well together and it showed in possession. While both teams created chances in the first half, it was the away side the most dangerous opportunities. In the 15th minute, Rafael Cox knocked a diagonal ball across to Chase Tangney who slipped a nice through ball to Rory Agu, but the forward’s touch was not enough to redirect it into goal. So the Tide reloaded. In the 22nd minute, Machael David hit a nice drive low to the corner through traffic but had it saved. Then the breakthrough came in the 36th minute. Cox and Machael David worked a nice combination to buy David a few yards of space. The space was used to push a through ball onto Spencer Schomaker’s nicely timed run and Schomaker released a shot before the recovering defender could block the goal. Schomaker’s goal was his fourth of the season. It looked like the Tide would put the game in comfortable graces six minutes later when a free kick from 35 yards out was taken short. Dennis Sanchez passed to Cox at the edge of the wall and from a tight angle the left sided midfielder laced one off the far post and back across the goal before it was cleared.
While the Tide will certainly take 3 points however they can get it, they had a number of chances to put the match on ice in half number two and couldn’t convert. The door was kept open and BYU, an especially formidable side at home, and they almost equalized a few times. In the 85th minute, BYU beat the offsides trap and even beat goal keeper Jordan Jennings. With ten of the Tacoma side beaten, the lone man left was Mark Lee with a dramatic volley off the goal line. The Cougars kept coming with long balls into the box off free kicks and regular play. One long chip into the box was grabbed by Jennings on his goal line. He was immediately barreled into the net while still holding the ball. The BYU fans thought they had tied the match up, but a quick whistle for the foul calmed the crowd and the Tide were able to hold on.
The win keeps the Tide on top of the Northwest Division with 22 points after 10 games. The Tide have now won 6 of their last 7 matches and recorded 7 shutouts on the year. Next Friday the Tide play at home on Friday against Spokane and away Saturday against Cascade.
