OLYMPIQUE MONTREUX SIGNS FOUR NEW PLAYERS FOR 2006

GK DEVIN ZIMMERMAN TO PLAY FOR USL PORTLAND TIMBERS

 

Pierre d’Estaing, Sports Reporter

Holladay (April 1),--Olympique Montreux announced this week that star goalkeeper and 2005 Daynes Cup Winner Devin Zimmerman signed a professional contract with the Portland Timbers. Portland plays in America’s second tier United States Soccer Leagues, directly below Major League Soccer (MLS).

“Although we will miss Devin, we are very happy for him. Every player dreams of playing professionally. His being good enough to go pro is evidence that any player on our roster can play at any high level, said Bel-Ami de Montreux, OM’s manager. “I predict Devin will soon graduate to MLS and Team USA.”

Zimmerman, 25, played at Fort Lewis College in 2000-2001, starting all 21 games in his last year. During that season, he recorded five shutouts and averaged only 1.37 goals allowed per game, helping Fort Lewis to a 14-7 record. He finished his college career ranked fourth all-time in both goals-against (1.31) and shutouts (6).

 Last season, while sharing goalkeeping duties with Star Keeper Aaron Bruderer for Olympique Montreux in Utah’s century-old Premier Division, he helped the team to an undefeated season and recorded a shutout in the Centennial Daynes Challenge Cup, Utah’s FA style challenge cup. He was also a regular on Utah’s Men Select Team.

The USL first division includes teams in Montreal, Vancouver, Miami, Toronto, Atlanta, Puerto Rico and Minnesota. Just this week the Associated Press announced that 40 year old Romario, Brazil’s 1994 World Cup winner and last year’s leading scorer in the Brazilian league, signed a contract with Miami FC of the USL.

Also this week, OM announced that it recently acquired Midfielder Todd Miller, Utah’s most successful homegrown soccer player. In addition, the team announced the signing of Forwards Rick Johnson and Matthew Smith, and Midfielder Ken Barton.

“These players’ skills will complement OM for many seasons,” declared Bel-Ami. “They will bring us not only experience, but make us stronger as a team. These signings are in keeping with the tradition that the best talents in the state should be in our colors unless they go pro.”

Even at his relatively young age, Miller is already a legend in Utah soccer folklore. He graduated from Alta High School in 1992, and was named the State’s most valuable player by the Salt Lake Tribune and the Deseret News. He went on to star for Westminster College’s soccer team where he earned degrees simultaneously in mathematics and computer science.

Drafted by the Columbus Crew in the first college draft of the newly formed Major League Soccer (MLS) in 1996, Miller played professionally for four years for the Crew in 1996 and 1997, and had tenures with A-League teams Milwaukee Rampage and Charleston Battery.

After returning to Utah, he played several years for International FC. Miller has been married to his wife Calli for nine years. They have two daughters, Abbey and Emmy. He works as a computer programmer for IKANO Communications.

Rick Johnson started playing soccer with Kicks 76’ which was later renamed America 76’. He played ball with well-known Utah stars such as the legendary Ben Hoecherl, Jason Fulmer and OM’s own JT Cracroft. He has also competed against Arthur Van Wagenen and Matt Woolley, both OM midfielders.

Johnson played in the Far West Regionals twice with Cisco Soccer Club, the ultimate soccer power in Phoenix, Arizona. He has played on several Olympique Development Program teams for Utah and most recently was called up to the Men’s State Select team.

Ken Barton played youth soccer for the popular Sparta Club. He later played for the Skyline High School Varsity Soccer team for two years from 1994 to 1996. Barton played collegiate soccer for the University of Southern Colorado from 1996 to 2000 and captained the team for three years.

At Southern Colorado, he was selected various times to All-Mid West, All-Region, All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference teams. He became USC’s assistant soccer coach in 2001, the year he graduated.

While in Denver, Barton also played for local club Brewmen SC. After moving back to Utah in the fall of 2003, he joined Team Xcel before moving on to powerhouse International FC. He lives in Holladay with wife Jamie and their dog, Cash.

OM also acquired another familiar Utah player, Forward Matthew Smith. A three-time high school state finalist with Alta High, Smith won the state title twice, with OM current star left back Jeremy Jones, then with Skyline High School, at the short end of a huge 8-2 beating, in one of those title games.

State Cup-winner Smith played for Westminster College for four years. He played professionally for the Utah Freezz for one year, but made his name while harassing opposing defenses for some 10 years playing up front for International FC.

Smith is expected to provide on-field leadership to a team already known for its disciplined and exciting play. He is also an aggressive ball-winner who can transition from the middle to attack.

“I am married to Hot Babe Melissa,” Smith proudly told us, “and own a tax and accounting firm.”

OM also revealed that this year, Kyle Copeland will train with the squad before embarking on his college career with Bringham Young University.