OCR Text |
Show SPORTS B1 Kickin' it FROM THE new school UVU's men's soccer coach Greg Maas looks forward to coaching the team, hoping social media can provide a way for motivation and engagement By Alex Rivera Sports Editor @HashtagginAlex A new collegiate sport isn't often introduced to a four-year university. In fact, for UVU, it hasn't happened in 10 years. But Utah Valley announced, on the same day that it announced its entry into the Western Athletic Conference, that a men's soccer program will be created. Feb. 27, UVU took a giant leap forward, hiring Greg Maas, the head coach of the Real Salt Lake Utah U-17 team. It was quite a journey for Maas to get where he is now. "I started playing soccer at four to five years of age," Maas said. "I was also a two-sport athlete [in high school] with a heavy focus in baseball and soccer. I led the state my senior year in shutouts and was an all-state goalkeeper." Maas was coached by the late and legendary Clive Charles, who coached both the men and women's soccer team at the university. Charles passed away in 2003 of prostate cancer. "He was a tremendous mentor and a friend," Maas said. "He con- WAC Wolverines Are Coming tinues to serve as a positive influence in my life, just like my father." Maas went on to play for the University of Portland and never looked back. He also played five years professionally for FC Portland and had much success on that level as well. With his playing years behind him, Maas can still find his inner player as he looks to coach the Wolverines of Utah Valley. "I've had this unique and uncanny ability to relate very well to players and translate the game through my experiences to them," Maas said. With UVU now taking steps toward making the soccer team complete, the next step is hiring an assistant coach before recruiting any players. When recruiting does begin, Maas looks to focus on the local talent before searching abroad. What makes this coach unique from other coaches is his involvement in social media. With Twitter part of his life-blood, Maas looks to incorporate his tweets to help students learn and be motivated. See NUN' IT, B3 Entering the WAC can prove to be the turning point for UVU Athletics By Alex Rivera Sports Editor @HashtagginAlex champion Arizona when they began their series against the Hornets of Sacramento State. The future conference foe won a pitching duel in game one, 1-0, overcoming an impressive complete game from Wolverine and reigning Great West pitcher of the year Adam Gunn. A senior from Santa Clara, Utah, Gunn held the Hornets to three hits and one run over eight stellar innings but did not receive the offensive support to notch the win. "I thought Adam threw the ball really well," said Head Coach Eric Madsen. "Obviously When UVU announced the acceptance into the Western Athletic Conference last October, the fans inside the UCCU center went nuts. It has been five months since, and it is now time to go nuts again because in just four months, UVU will start playing in the WAC. Playing in the WAC can truly be a turning point for UVU athletics as we know it. As basketball season, for both men and women, comes to a close and the wrestling season looks forward to the NCAA tournament, it is no surprise that attention should turn to the new conference that will grace the hallways and walls of the UCCU Center. The good people at WolverineGreen.com said it best after the announcement was made that "the move comes on the heels of a banner year for UVU Athletics. The Wolverine baseball team won 32 consecutive games ... the third longest streak in NCAA baseball history. In the 2011 and 2012 school years, UVU produced six AllAmerican athletes: Chris Benson (baseball), Billy Burgess (baseball), Austin Heaps (baseball), Kallunki (baseball), Ben Kjar (wrestling) and Isaiah Williams (men's basketball)." The WAC is getting a remodel with every school except New Mexico State University and Seattle University; they are departing for other conferences. But UVU will enter the conference with pride and confidence alongside current conference rivals, Texas-Pan American and Chicago State, which will continue their rivalries in a much more important conference. Important because of the automatic qualifying bids if they win their conference. The UVU baseball team was left out of the NCAA postseason because of their strength of schedule, despite holding the best NCAA record in 2012 and beating then No. 4 Arizona, who ended up winning the College World Series. This year, they beat the national champions again, away from their own land in Arizona. If the baseball team can pull of the same thing they did last year next year, they can be recognized on national television and compete for their first ever NCAA championship trophy. The women are doing fairly well in their respective sports, with the soccer and volleyball See BASEBALL, B2 See WAC, B3 PHOTO COURTESY OF GREG MAAS Greg Maas was announced as the first ever men's soccer head coach for UVU, which starts its season in the fall of 2014. How 'bout a round of applause - PRESTON OLSEN/UVU REVIEW The Wolverines were 27-2 at Brent Brown Ballpark last year. There's no place like home SHANE TRUSKOLASKI/UVU ATHLETICS Jason Johnson scored a career-high of 24 points, leading the Wolverines to a victorius win against Chicago State. As excitement radiates from the court, ready to take on the WAC next season, the Wolverines efforts are focused on what's ahead By Rachel Anderson Assistant sports editor @rachach3x Pull Quote: "I'm very pleased and proud of my kids. To com- plete the season, basketball season entailed 18 weeks and we traveled 14 of them; that's a very tactful schedule. I'm very pleased and I think the kids have fought to continue to get better." Head Coach Dick Hunsaker. The time has come, but the time has not passed. The men's basketball team walked off the court with a 76-69 victory against Chicago State as they closed out the season with their last-ever Great West Conference game win. With only one non-conference game left, Utah Valley plans to use the Chicago State win as a force for good as they prepare for the GWC tournament for the last time before entering the Western Athletes Conference next season. Things got really heated as the Wolverines pulled out a 20-point lead from the Cougars, prowling it out for the keepsake. Jason Johnson led the way with 24 points and five rebounds, breaking away from the tight first half and coming back with a huge run in the second half. See APPLAUSE, B2 Losing two of three at Sacramento State has UVU eager to begin a three-game home stand against Nevada By Kyle Spencer Sports writer @kyledspencer Dropping two of three to Sacramento State was not the way the Wolverines wanted their visit to the Golden State end. The Wolverines were coming off a two-game split in Tucson, Ariz. against defending national College Combo Special at Wild al4ustang-present your student ID! Pizza with cBererage 7. 95! * • • /at° HOURS: 11-10 Mon-Thur 11-11 Fri-Sat Closed Sunda 111.71 r 111■. . Watch your favorite sport teams on our ALL S•RTS HANNEL while enjoying our great food and specialty rootbeer! 4-Nil 10" Pepperoni or 5-Cheese Pizza with Beverage $7.95 Sandwiches and Salads including one side only $7.89 e Just off 1-15 University Parkway Exit 1250 S 860 W, Orem, UT Phone 801 228 9067 8 HD SCREENS • BBQ RIBS n' WINGS • PIZZA • BURGERS • STEAKS • SANDWICHES • DRAFT RUOTBEER • GOURMET PIES |