Blake Frischknecht runs in a drill during a Las Vegas Lights practice at Cashman Field Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020.
Saturday, Aug. 22, 2020 | 2 a.m.
Blake Frischknecht must have been in kindergarten, if not younger, for his first season of soccer. His dad, who was the coach, made sure his son received No. 9 when uniforms were distributed.
Ever since that season, Frischknecht has lived up to the reputation of the number in being a prolific goal scorer.
“Goal scorers or the center forward, that’s No. 9,” he remembers being told. “Soccer was my first love. It clicked for me a little sooner (than most kids). I’ve always played forward; always wore No. 9.”
Frischknecht couldn’t help reflecting on his journey in the sport last week when he signed a contract with the Las Vegas Lights. At age 25 and in his first professional season, he’s older than most in the United Soccer League, the product of serving a two-year church mission to Argentina, and suffering a gruesome knee injury that required three surgeries and nearly derailed his career.
But there he was, sliding on his new No. 9 jersey and realizing the dream of being professional — and being a professional in his hometown — was finally here. Dad, who died in a car accident when he was a child, would surely be proud.
“This is an absolute dream come true,” Frischknecht said. “If you would have told me at 12 or 13 that I would be playing professional soccer in Las Vegas, I would have jumped at the idea.”
Frischknecht had a storied career at Utah Valley University, where last fall he led the nation with seven game-winning goals on his way to becoming the Western Athletic Conference’s Offensive Player of the Year. He established a program record with 13 goals and 27 points in 2019, including a four-goal effort — all in the second half — against Air Force.
Then, the unexpected happened.
In November, he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee, which required more than a week in the hospital and three surgeries because of an infection. Initially, there was disappointment because the injury ruined his chances to be picked into Major League Soccer, where he said he was projected to be a first-round selection.
That feeling of disappointment quickly changed to appreciation that the injury wasn’t more severe, or potentially career-ending. The rehab process took about eight months — best-case scenario for a knee injury of that severity.
“I was lucky and super blessed,” Frischknecht said. “It’s a miracle that I am back playing.”
He initially played in college at BYU before serving a church mission in Argentina. Many elite athletes wouldn’t think of stopping at the peak of their development, but Frischknecht wouldn’t change a thing about this journey. The Argentines are passionate about their soccer, and spending two years in that environment (including pick-up games), helped fuel his desire to become a professional. Looking back, he said, it was two years well spent.
“I took my cleats and played all the time,” said Frischknecht, who is bilingual in Spanish and able to better communicate with many of his Spanish-speaking teammates. “It was nothing organized, but you’d always come across kids playing in the street. In South America, Argentina especially, soccer is a religion for some. To get a first-hand experience of what that means gives a whole other level of appreciation for the game.”
He transferred to Utah Valley after returning home and got married — his wife, Ella, played at BYU and Ole Miss. One of the benefits of being at Utah Valley was getting to play against UNLV, as his family has deep roots in Las Vegas and has long been basketball season ticket holders.
“That was a special night,” he said of the game at UNLV.
Frischknecht could have played football for UNLV. He was the placekicker at Centennial High as a senior, and his leg strength was so impressive that coach Bobby Hauck recruited him. “Blake should be in the NFL making a ton of money. Best leg I have ever coached,” former Centennial coach Leon Evans messaged last week.
But soccer was, and always will be, Frischknecht’s passion. His ultimate goal is to join the likes of locals Tristan Blackmon and Danny Musovski, both with LAFC, in Major League Soccer. But first it’s about living that dream with the Lights, and doing what he does best: scoring goals.
“It’s tough coming back from an ACL and I was lucky enough to do it in eight months,” he said. “My goal is to get on the field for big minutes and help the team win.”
Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21
