NATE MURPHY OPENS HIS ACCOUNT AS OM ROUTES UTAH MIX 3-0

The goals:     Nate Murphy, 42nd minute
                       Sergio Vasquez, 47th and 61st minutes

By Pierre D'estaing, Sports Writer


WEST JORDAN, UT (April 29) -. After waiting for more than 30 minutes for the assistant referees to finally show up to officiate the game, Olympique Montreux stuttered at the start before rediscovering its killer ways near the end of the first half and dominated the game in the second half.

Up until the 42nd minute when Nate Murphy found the net for the first goal, the Olympians showed that their focus and concentration were affected by the late start. The playmaker became hit man when a battling Mike Polich won the ball and perfectly laid it for him to pull the trigger.

--Slow Start.

In the early going, Utah Mix appeared the more motivated team, taking it to an OM defense missing star fullback Paul Williams who was serving his second game red card suspension. With the surprising nonappearance of fullback Mike Rogers, manager Bel-Ami assigned playmaker Todd Miller to marshal the defense.  The calm and cool veteran filled in admirably with the solid Jeremy Jones and John MacQuarrie patrolling the flanks, and Arthur van Wagenen operating in front of the back line.

--Utah Mix Galvanized

There were a few cold sweat moments when the Olympians conceded a few corners too many and the admirable Juan Carlos Chamale, Utah Mix playmaker, were sending them curling in as keeper Aaron Bruderer was facing the bright sun.  The defense held firm as the midfield kept losing possession of the ball.

Murphy's goal came just in time to relent the machismo of Utah Mix.

--The Chad Gilbert Show

OM took a firmer grip on the game after the break. As Utah Mix tried to respond, Chad Gilbert went a few gears higher, weaving and turning, running at the defense and timely making great passes. Each time he touched the ball and ran at The Mix defense, he threatened to score.

In the 55th minute Gilbert floated past two Utah Mix tacklers and sailed goal-ward, only to be taken down from behind in the penalty area. The central referee immediately pointed to the spot. Vasquez took the penalty and scored.

Two minutes later, Gilbert forced The Mix keeper to make a blocking save with a left-footed shot and then Ken Barton kicked the rebound too high after Utah Mix failed to clear a corner.

The third goal came in the 61st minute. Gilbert collected a flick from Barton with his back to goal and well outside The Mix area. He misled two markers and then left a third behind before passing the ball to Vasquez to shoot between The Mix goalkeeper and the near post.

--Air Bruderer in Full Flight

Utah Mix almost pulled a goal back when defender Kyle Copeland inadvertently headed against his own goal. His header looked sure to go in, but Bruderer went airborne and tipped the ball over the crossbar.

“Bruderer has been in the best shape I have seen him in. He maintains full concentration for 90 plus minutes as a keeper should, making decisive sorties and ensuring to make a play on the ball each time he is called to leave his line,” said Bel-Ami.  “He is acknowledging his leadership role.”

The game ended in typical Utah Mix fashion with several Mix players actually spitting on the Olympians. One of them was given a red card for the behavior.