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Show www.dailyutahchronicle.com UPCOMING SPORTS EVENTS FRIDAY: Women's Volleyball Utah @ Weber State Crimson Court 7 p.m. SPORTS WORLD MLB Standings AMERICAN LEAGUE East NY Yankees Boston Tampa Bay Toronto Baltimore Central Detroit Cleveland Chi White Sox Minnesota Kansas City West Texas LA Angels Oakland Seattle PCT GB L W 77 48 77 50 69 57 65 62 48 77 .616 .606 .548 .512 .384 1.0 8.5 13.0 29.0 L W 69 58 63 62 63 63 55 72 52 76 PCT .543 .504 .500 .433 .406 GB 5.0 5.5 14.0 17.5 W L 74 55 69 59 57 70 54 73 .574 .539 .449 .425 PCT GB 4.5 16.0 19.0 NATIONAL LEAGUE East Philadelphia Atlanta Washington NY Mets Florida Central Milwaukee St. Louis Cincinnati Pittsburgh Chi Cubs Houston West Arizona San Francisco Colorado San Diego LA Dodgers W 82 77 62 60 57 L 44 52 64 67 70 .651 .597 .492 .472 .449 6.5 20.0 22.5 25.5 W 77 67 62 60 56 42 L 53 61 65 67 72 86 PCT .592 .523 .488 .472 .438 .328 GB 9.0 13.5 15.5 20.0 34.0 W 69 68 61 59 58 L 59 60 68 70 69 PCT .539 .531 .473 .457 .457 GB PCT GB 1.0 8.5 10.5 10.5 7 SPORTS Wednesday, August 24, 2011 SOCCER Cougars control territory Alex Rasmussen STAFF WRITER The Utes knew they were in for a tall task as they headed n NEXT GAME: UTAH vs. NEVADA into Provo, Aug. 28 at 1 p.m. and indeed Ute Field the Cougars proved to be too much to handle, delivering a knockout 4-o victory Tuesday. Utah held strong in the first half, thanks to some acrobatic saves by keeper Hannah Turpen. The Cougars' first goal came following a second yellow card being issued to Lauren Dudley, which set up a free kick for BYU's Jessica Ringwood from 18 feet. Ringwood's shot found its way into the goal after sailing past the fingertips of Turpen. BYU did not ease up on the attack. With 26 minutes remaining, Auna Doria snaked around a defender and drove down the field, sending a shot around Turpin who came out of the box to attempt a block. With 12 minutes remaining, Jennie Marshall delivered a fluent pass up and over the Utah defenders and Jaiden Thornock completed the play by knocking in her first career goal. The Cougars' final goal was scored by Niki Fernandes with eight minutes remaining. The Utes and Cougars were close throughout the first 15 minutes of game play, but soon after, the Cougars offense picked up and began to take control of the game. Utah's best shot attempt came when Jen Ericson delivered a strike in the i9th minute that went right above the goalkeeper's reach but hit the crossbar going to UTAH: 0 BYU: 4 See SOCCER Page 9 SPENCER SANDSTROM/The Daily Utah Chronicle Utah goalkeeper Hannah Turpen reacts after giving up a goal during the second half of Tuesday's game against BYU in Provo. • Second ary silences doubts Bubba Brown STAFF WRITER NATHAN SWEET/The Daily Utah Chronicle Conroy Black blocks for Keith McGill after he intercepts a pass from UNLV during the 2010 season. It's no secret that the secondary was supposed to be the Utes' downfall this season, but since the beginning of fall camp, the unit has done its best to change that perception. "A lot of people thought we were going to be a weakness of the team, but we all knew that we're young and talented," said Conroy Black, who is listed as the No. 1 right corner on the latest depth chart. "People thought experience was a question, but in my mind it was never a question because I know we're ready to play." The early doubts about the sec- ondary were well-founded. After getting torched by TCU, San Diego State and Boise State late last season, the secondary lost its best player, junior Brandon Burton, to the NFL. Making matters more uncertain was the announcement that Brian Blechen, a Freshman All-American safety last season, would be moving to linebacker, leaving the secondary without a single player with a Division-I start. However, throughout fall camp it became apparent that the fears about the secondary had been exaggerated. On multiple occasions, Utah coaches even went so far as to call the unit one of the team's strengths. It's now just a matter of getting the right players the right number of reps and going from there. "We have a lot of talent," said defensive coordinator Kalani Sitake. "When you have the talent, the rest is just figuring out who you should put on the field first." Black and Ryan Lacy each impressed the coaches in fall camp after seeing playing time last year, and are expected to be the starters at cornerback. The depth behind them has the Utes brimming with confidence. Wykie Freeman and receiver-turnedcorner Mo Lee pushed Black and Lacy all camp and should be viable back- See SECONDARY Page 8 1- THE GREAT DEBATE --1 Who will have the best NFL rookie season? Burton's aggressiveness is unwavering Tenacity will drive Asiata forward to picks were slim in April's 2011 NFL Draft compared to recent years. Only two Utah alumni were selected, which pales in comparison to the record-setting 2010 draft class in which six Utes were taken. However, this is not to say that the U didn't produce some promising talent. Now that training camp and the preseason is under way, it is clear that the "Most Likely to Succeed" award goes to cornerback Brandon Burton. Burton opted to forgo his senior season and declare for the NFL Draft. He became the first Ute to have his name called at Radio City Music Hall in 2011. Burton was chosen in the fifth round by the Minnesota Vikings as the No. 139 overall pick, and was the No. 21 cornerback selected. Burton became a U football legend after he blocked Mitch Payne's 42-yard field-goal attempt on the final play of Utah's 17-16 victory over BYU last November. The six-foot i85-lb. German-born cornerback was a productive member on the U's defense and special teams throughout his three-season career, boasting 97 Brandon tackles and 18 pass breakups. At the combine, Burton recorded a 4.54-second 40-yard dash and a 6.93-second 3-cone drill. Despite his arguably "average" performance at the combine, Mike Mayock of NFL Network gave a third-round grade to Burton and noted that he could "become a great starting corner hen former Ute Matt Asiata signed with the Minnesota Vikings in July following the NFL lockout, he was given a great opportunity to JORY make a name for himself in his first year in CARROLL the NFL. Asiata has never been a guy to put up gaudy numbers, but that's why Minnesota is the perfect team for him. The Vikings have one of the league's top StalTWriter rushers in Adrian Peterson—therefore, if Asiata makes the final roster, he will likely Even though Asiata might see fewer carend up in the fullback position. Instead of ries come his way in the NFL, he can still taking handoffs, Asiata will pave an open provide a great boost for the offense. His road for Peterson to burst through. It'll be a running game is there if the Vikings need it, change from last season but he also has sure hands for at Utah, when Asiata an occasional reception out of split time with Eddie the backfield. Whenever the Wide, and finished the ball is in his possession, Asiata • season with 155 carries has good vision of the field for nearly loo yards. and knows where to go. He is As Asiata makes the also the kind of player who transition to fullback, he gives isn't afraid to lower his shoulthe Vikings another reliable der to pick up a couple more option on the field. Peterson yards, when others would is as good a running back as simply run out of bounds. there is on first and second Asiata's toughness is what downs, quick and dangerous sets him apart and gives him with the ball in his hands. But the edge among several other Matt Asiata when it comes to short-yardUte rookies in the NFL this age situations, such as third-and-short or season, which is something that doesn't on the goal line, Asiata is the kind of player show up on the stat sheets. During his time the Vikings can turn to. Asiata always keeps at Utah, Asiata hovered around four yards his feet driving forward down the field, ofper carry. It's not an overwhelming stat by ten moving the pile of players with him and See CARROLL Page 8 picking up several yards. U W JANTZEE COGGINS StaffWriter for a team with a press-heavy scheme." Vikings cornerbacks coach Joe Woods said the decision to draft Burton had more to do with him being a good overall player than a great fit in Minnesota's defense. Woods told www. vikings.com that Burton understands what he's doing on the field and is solid in coverage and willing in run support. "He's a big corner, a good athlete and smart," Woods said. "He's going to be a student of the game." And if history is any indicator, Burton's fall to the fifth round of the draft might be a good omen. Burton He is Utah's fourth fifth-round pick in two years. Defensive back Robert Johnson (Tennessee), wide receiver David Reed (Baltimore) and linebacker Stevenson Sylvester (Pittsburgh) were chosen in the fifth round of VS See COGGINS Page 8 Vote on who won this week D www.dailyutahchronicle.com |