Sandy (Oct. 29) [LNS]. —Park City and Olympique Montreux squared off this afternoon at Storm Mountain Park to dispute the Centennial Daynes Challenge Cup Game before a large and colorful crowd.
In the first half, Park City employed a strategy of muscles and speed to travel deep into OM’s sensitive zone. OM Captain Paul Williams and his defensive crew of Mike Rogers, John McQuarrie, Hugh and Arthur Van Wagenen were called upon to impede the Snowmen's dangerous advances.
Benefiting from several benevolent referee calls, Park City was awarded numerous free kicks near the frame of the penalty area. The set pieces and the Snowmen's hard work kept the ball in OM’s half of the field for some substantial and rough minutes.
However, the Olympians dished out some serious scares upon Park City as well.
Jake Cavanaugh relentlessly attacked on the right flank. Chad Gilbert twice forced the Snowmen's keeper into full parades to save what looked like certain goals.
At the 15th minute, Cavanaugh received a long pass from Rogers, and only missed the spot by a whisker.
Two minutes later, McQuarrie’s long range effort sailed over the bar.
The score remains tied 0-0 at half time.
If the Snowmen were satisfied with their first half display, they should have been prepared for the ominous second half, as many teams had found out in previous matches against the Olympians.
Indeed, Olympique Montreux was about to get mean, very mean.
From the beginning of the second half, the side unleashed a category 8 hurricane with such horrible surges that Park City appeared bowled over.
With the relentless, snaking, dizzying and penetrating runs of Chad Gilbert, Cavanaugh and Jesse Day setting the tempo, and the ballet-like finishing touch of Sergio Vasquez finally peaking, the Olympians left no doubt that they had a legitimate right to the Championship and the Centennial Daynes Challenge Cup.
With Nate Murphy and Matt Woolley devilishly operating in the eye of the storm, OM took control of the game, dictating the pace.
Josh Kimball came close to scoring in the 48th minute.
In the 59th minute, Cavanaugh again took his man on a race down the right wing, his pass met Gilbert inside the Snowmen's penalty area. With the striker’s back to the goal, surrounded and unable to spin around to launch a kick, Gilbert performed a Houdini act, back-heeled the ball to Vasquez who blasted it into the roof of the net.
That’s a goal!
Ten minutes later, Vasquez got a superb pass from Tracy McGuire, dribbled pass a couple of Snowmen, faked right, went left to score his 13th goal and confirm his supreme marksman credentials beyond all possible doubts. 2-0, OM.
With game slipping away, Park City doubled their efforts. The refereeing crew appeared to be officiating another game, sanctioning OM’s players for no apparent reasons. Playmaker Murphy got a yellow card for saying “handball” when a Park City player clearly handled the ball.
At the 84th minute, Murphy did what Murphy does best, he placed a low shot in the left corner of the Snowmen's goal to put the game beyond reach. 3-0, OM.
With still many minutes left to play, the central referee issued a straight red card to McGuire, not for fouling anyone.
Thereafter, Park City went after a consolation goal, but OM’s defenders refused to yield the right of way, with Hugh Van Wagenen earning Man of the Match honors.
The game ended 3-0 in favor of the Olympians.
“ I had moments of cold sweat in the first half with Park City being awarded so many free kicks, and Liam Hanafer taking all of them. He is so dangerous on set pieces. But we prepared well to defend against those, said Bel-Ami de Montreux, OM's technical director, our keeper, Devin Zimmerman was up to the task.
“Park City played physical and pinned us down for long stretches in the first half, but we were well organized in the back. We just had some difficulties slowing down the plays at midfield. I think the turning point was when we sent in Ivan Morales to help Murphy. He was able to hold the ball a bit, giving us a chance to get organized. Once Murphy got it going, he was unstoppable.
“We really wanted this silverware. The Daynes Challenge Cup is Utah’s most prestigious trophy. By winning it, we joined a century old fraternity. One hundred years from now, our name will still be engraved on the cup. I am proud of our collective commitment during this campaign. Hopefully, we will stay together, bring in two or three new players and chase more silverware next spring," de Montreux added.
The Olympians now plan to go after the Budweiser Cup in Las Vegas next February.
______________________________
Man of the Match: HUGH VAN WAGENEN
______________________________
Leading scorers:
Sergio Vasquez, 13 goals
Chad Gilbert, 12 goals
________________________________
Olympian Notes:
BEL-AMI DE MONTREUX was proud to receive the Daynes Challenge Cup from legendary Coach Chris Dorich, a statesman in Utah soccer.
COACH DORICH, the Utah Men Select Team coach, was on hand to watch the Olympians’ performance. He has at least six Olympians on the selection: Nate Murphy, Chad Gilbert, Jesse Day, Sergio Vasquez, John McQuarrie and Devin Zimmerman.
However, the selectioneer had to be impressed with Matt Wooley, Hugh Van Wagenen, Paul Williams, and Jake Cavanaugh’s performance.
MIKE POLICH long predicted this crew could win silverware. He was right.
ARTHUR VAN WAGENEN played with the flu and still had a very good game.
ERICK IVAN MORALES contributed despite still rehabilitating his injured right knee
JT CRACROFT supplied good advice to Bel-Ami on the sideline. He helped keep us organized.
JEREMY JONES was with us on the sidelines despite his suspension.
AARON BRUDERER, although not playing in the game, unselfishly supported the team in the Daynes Cup game. We recognize that Aaron has made great contributions to the team. We cannot forget how he stopped Real Salt Lake's numerous shots on goal on September 3, 2005.
Many players of BOSNIA UNITED and their coach, Goran, came to support OM. We appreciate the gesture and we are sure they will give us a hard time next year in league play.
OM alumni GEORGE SINJU, SIMPLICE DJAHANOU and MARCOS MELENDEZ were on hand to watch the team win the Daynes Challenge Cup. Long time supporter HAKEEM ISHOLA was also present.
OUR FANS AND FAMILY were present in full force to support the team. We are greatly appreciate their support. We need it.
_______________________________
STARTING LINE UP
John McQuarrie, Jesse Day, Nate Murphy, Sergio Vasquez, Chad Gilbert, Arthur Van Wagenen, Hugh Van Wagenen, Paul Williams, Mike Rogers, Devin Zimmerman, Jake Cavanaugh.
_______________________________
SUBSTITUTIONS
Matt Woolley, Erick Ivan Morales, Josh Kimball, Tracy McGuire, Isaac James, Mike Polich.
________________________________
THEY SAID IT:
ALEXIS DE MONTREUX, speaking about Bel-Ami de Montreux: “My dad wins the Daynes Cup and went unbeaten for two straight seasons, he should be called The Professor.”
PAUL WILLIAMS: “They are going to keep coming at us, we just have to be fully awake.”
PAUL WILLIAMS’S MOM: “Don’t worry, I have seen Park City play. They are not that good.”
SERGIO VASQUEZ at half time: “I am taking it to them.”
BEL-AMI DE MONTREUX to NATE MURPHY: “Take charge of midfield, control the eye.”
_________________________________
NEXT GAME
To be announced
No comments:
Post a Comment