Salt Lake City, Utah. Chad Gilbert opened the floodgates, Sergio Vasquez, K.C. Nordfors, Tracy McGuire and Josh Kimball increased the pressure in a 7-1 victory over Orem City, F.C. in the first game of the fall season of the Utah Soccer Association at Westpointe Field House.
With Family and friends cheering and singing, Olympique Montreux, widely known as OM, sporting its new all white Adidas kit with red stripes and embroidered crest, took to the field last Saturday, August 13, 2005. After conquering opening jitters, and holding off Orem City’s enthusiasm, OM found the combination to their opponents’ compact defense marshaled by Francis Ogden, Orem’s talented Central African defender.
The go-ahead goal came from skillful play by Sergio Vasquez who faked off a midfielder, and found a well-positioned Chad Gilbert who directed the ball into the net.
Before the first goal, it seemed like Orem’s keeper was always in the right place at the right time, blocking off OM’s relentless firepower coming from midfield top guns Jake Cavanaugh, Jesse Day, and central defender Mike Polich’s powerful up stream runs.
Less than five minutes after Gilbert’s strike, Velasquez made it 2-0 on a long clearance by OM’s outstanding goalkeeper, Aaron Bruderer. Now in his groove, Vasquez became inspiring. At the 40-minute mark, he tamed a pass from midfield maestro Nate Murphy, did beautiful solo work, eluded two Orem midfielders, sped pass a bewildered Ogden to send the keeper diving the wrong way. It was a superb goal. The crowd roared its approval.
Just before half time, K.C. Nordfors found a streaking Gilbert who added his second goal of the afternoon.
OM was leading 4-0 at halftime.
If the delirious OM fans thought Orem City’s lights were all but out, the first few minutes of the second half proved that it is almost always true that losing teams put up their best fight in the first few minutes of the second half. OM’s technical staff anticipated Orem’s blitzkrieg. Holding midfielders Arthur Van Wagenen and Jeremy Jones were imperial, repelling Orem’s efforts. When Orem’s strikers changed strategy and tried to get in from the left side, they ran into a battle-ready John McQuarrie. The rare times that Orem’s forwards managed to get behind the defense, Aaron Bruderer was just too good, having gained much in confidence two weeks earlier during the 0-0 tie with a Real Salt Lake developmental team that featured four internationals, First Round Draft pick Nicholas Besagno, and several first team players.
Orem was not much competition by the middle of the second half, conceding three more goals.
K.C. Nordfors powered in the fifth, followed by Tracy McGuire in the 75th minute. Josh Kimball stretched the lead to 7-0 before Orem was awarded a penalty in the waning minutes. Davin Zimmerman blocked the spot kick, but Orem got a consolation tap in.
OM’s victory in its first competitive game after promotion to the Premiership follows the team’s remarkable performance in a friendly fixture against Utah’s Major League Soccer professional team, Real Salt Lake, and victories over strong-willed Salt Lake Community College and a gifted U17 select team.
It was also Bel-Ami de Montreux’s 156th game in charge since the team’s creation in 1999, and the Frenchman’s 143rd victory. In post match comments, he lauded his players’ performance, devotion to the team, and Polich’s on-the-field leadership.”
Indeed, OM displayed its overwhelming size, hunger for success, style and pedigree. Apparently, as the team’s website claimed earlier, it is not our grandmother’s Olympique Montreux. The side is totally revamped, fast, organized and disciplined, and most of all, sober.
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MAN OF THE MATCH: Sergio Vasquez.
OLYMPIAN NOTES: Jesse Day and Jake Cavanaugh flew several skilful missions on the wings, giving great service to the forwards. Nate Murphy at the center of midfield, directed traffic like a true veteran. Mike Polich, OM’s captain, authoritatively anchored the defense where Arthur Van Wagenen, Jeremy Jones, J.T. Cracroft and John McGuire formed an impenetrable shell. Davin Zimmerman who only joined the team the evening before the game distinguished himself and even stopped a penalty. Davin is not just any keeper. He is the Utah Select Team shot blocker and also the arquero of the U.S. National B Team.
STARTING LINE UP: Sergio Vasquez, Chad Gilbert, Jesse Day, Nate Murphy, Jake Cavanaugh, Arthur Van Wagenen, Jeremy Jones, Mike Polich, J.T. Cracroft, John McGuire, Aaron Bruderer.
Substitutions: K.C. Nordfors, Tracy McGuire, Josh Kimball, Eli Ditto, Erick Morales, Davin Zimmerman.
INJURY REPORT: None. J.T. Cracroft took a minor knock and required icing of his left knee.
GOAL METER: Chad Gilbert 2 goals
Sergio Velasquez, 2 goals
K.C. Nordfors, Tracy McGuire, Josh Kimball, 1 goal
THEY SAID IT:
Bel-Ami: “Make no mistake, your baby boy is packing much weight.”
Mike Polich: “Clear the bench, put every one in.”
SPECIAL VISITOR: Mike Leveille, a 2001-2002 alumnus, watched the game and expressed his satisfaction with the team’s display.
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