OLYMPIQUE MONTREUX OVERPOWERS PAST BOSNIA USA 5-0

Pierre d' Estaim
Sports Writer

West Salt Lake, UT (League News Service)(August 26, 2006) - Jeremy Jones curled in a free kick in the 22nd minute to open the floodgate in a five-goal victory over Bosnia USA at Riverside Park on Saturday night.

The Olympique Montreux midfielder curled the ball over the tall Bosnian defensive wall from 27 yards to power his team in the much-anticipated fixture.

It did not look very promising before Jones's goal. The Bosnian side began the game playing good soccer behind the good technics of their number 10 playmaker Branislav Nicolic and with a defense featuring two former OM stars, 2001 hero Alija Hijdarevic on the left and the dynamic Sasha Vidic on the right side.

However, the tide shifted after the opening goal as the Olympians finally set in motion their superior passing and quick ball movement. Nate Murphy, Todd Miller  and Ken Barton took over the midfield while wingers Jesse Day and Josh Kimball opened up the pitch. Defender Paul Williams, back from injury, looked strong and commanding. 

Exasperated by the Olympians' apparent monopoly of the ball, several Bosnian players started dishing out hard fouls.

OM led 3-0 after the first half with goals from Josh Kimball (30th) and Everton do Prado (35th).

If you can't beat them, kick them

It was academic by the second half. Leading by three goals but bruised by too many fouls from an opponent with many players disrespecting the spirit of the game, the Olympians knew that maintaining possession of the ball was their best chance to avoid serious injury. They executed perfectly, one-touching and moving quickly.

The ball was doing most of the running. Psychologically defeated, some the Bosnians increased the hard fouling, mostly targeting frontman Sergio Vasquez and midfileder Tiger Fitzpatrick.

Cruising home

At the hour mark, Day placed a wonderful ball in the penalty area. Kimball found it to score his second goal with attractive simplicity. Two minutes later, Barton connected with Cavanaugh who volleyed in the fifth goal.

By then, Bosnia USA was reduced to nine men after their forward Admir Softic and later, their captain Adis Alagic, were ejected after several warnings by the referee.

With this victory, OM won three games in one week. On August 22, the side defeated Odyssey Web 8-0. On August 24, the Olympians ran past Utah FC to a 4-1 result.

“We outscored our opponents 17 goals to one in seven days.  That's very encouraging,” said stalwart midfielder Todd Miller.

“We have good momentum going down the stretch.”

LAZIO AND OLYMPIQUE MONTREUX PLAY TO 2-2 THRILER

GK AARON BRUDERER SHINES IN PENALTY KICKS VICTORY

Regulation: Lazio 2, OM 2
PKs: OM 4, Lazio 2

Pierre d'Estaim
League News Service

SUGARHOUSE, UT. (LNS) - Olympique Montreux star Chad Gilbert scored one goal and playmaker Nate Murphy added another this evening as OM came from behind twice to tie Lazio at Westminster College's Dorich Stadium in a league game.

True to their reputation for being strong at home, Lazio took advantage of a defensive error at the 30th minute to take the lead. OM nearly equalized on a Tiger Fitzpatrick's free kick at the 37th minute, but the Trinidad International's bending shot missed by a hair's breadth.

Lazio pumped up the pressure after that narrow escape. Showing their superior form, they kept the Olympians on their heels throughout the first half.

--A charmed crossbar

The Olympians' first goal came in the 50th minute when captain Todd Miller took the ball form his own area, found winger Jesse Day who rapidly connected with Gilbert. The fleet-footed marksman made sure to burry the ball in Lazio's net with authority.

The momentum shifted after Gilbert's goal. Displaying a number 10 performance, Tiger took control of midfield along with playmaker Murphy.  They began finding wingers Tracy McGuire and Jake Cavanaugh to open the Lazio defense.

Forward Ricky Johnson came close a number of times. But for the heroics of Lazio's keeper, and a sympathetic crossbar, Johnson could have given OM a good lead.

In the 63rd and 67th minutes, Gilbert had two beautiful kicks bounce off Lazio's charmed crossbar.

--Air Bruderer in full flight

Lazio scored a cracking goal in the 72nd minute, but OM answered less that five minutes later after excellent team work involving rapid one touch passes between Day, Johnson, Tiger and JT Cracroft.

The score remained tied in regulation time. The Olympians won the game in the ensuing penalty kicks thanks to the superb goaltending of Aaron Bruderer who stopped two PKs, including one by former OM midfielder turned Lazio player Ike James.

Bruderer, the league's top goalkeeper in all statistical categories made several important saves in the game to take away man of the match honors from Tiger.

--A roaring Tiger on the loose

Tiger Fitzpatrick's performance stood out though. "Tiger is truly a special player," said Bel-Ami, the Olympians' manager. "Wearing the number 10 of a winner, he played like one. With so many teams in MLS struggling, you would think he'd get a call by now.”

--It's OK to clear the ball out ugly

"I must give special credit to the defense and Aaron. Lazio is a very young and fit team, very fit.  They always give us a hard time. Our defense responded great. We can learn from playing teams like Lazio.  I have one complaint. We need to clear the ball out more often. There comes a time, as McGuire says, if it looks like half of a danger, kick the ball down field like the pros.  We need to do that more often.”

NOTE: Forward Everton made his OM debut and came close to scoring on a pretty header that narrowly missed. Once he is used to the altitude, he will be a handful for opponents.

OM line up:  Aaron Bruderer, Jeremy Jones, Todd Miller (captain), Ken Barton, Jesse Day, Nate Murphy, Leslie Tiger Fitzpatrick, Chad Gilbert,  Jake Cavanaugh, Everton Do Prado.

Subs:  Tracy McGuire, Josh Kimball, Mauricio Borba, JT Cracroft, Ricky Johnson.

Subs not used: Tahoe, Chad Evans.

OLYMPIQUE MONTREUX OVERWHELMS TEAM XCEL 5-0

By Pierre d'Estaim
Sports Writer

Kaysville, UT (League News Service (LNS) August 8 -- Ricky Johnson scored twice and Leslie “Tiger” Fitzpatrick tallied on his debut as Olympique Montreux clinched a berth in the Daynes Challenge Cup by beating Team Xcel 5-0 on Tuesday at the Davis Applied Technology Center.

The large victory put OM into a dominating position for the semifinal game this coming Saturday at West Jordan Soccer Complex when the side takes on the winner of the lions of  Pan World FC who defeated Utah F.C.  this evening.

In Tuesday's other Daynes Challenge Cup game, Park City Newpark faced Odyssey Web.

Chad Gilbert scored with a twelve yards bounding shot in the 13th minute after good work by playmakers Ken Barton and Nate Murphy who is having an MVP season so far.

Marksman Sergio Vasquez came close to scoring a few times but Xcel's defense followed him closely and played him tightly.  Ricky Johnson scored on a header in the 38th minute.

In the second half, Gilbert turned playmaker when he served a great pass to JT Cracroft in the 48th minute. Cracroft made sure not to waste his chance, having not been seen since the Park City Tournament a month ago.

“JT never lets us down. We expect great things from him. He needs to find a way to make it to practice to justify his selection in the team,” said Bel-Ami, OM's manager.

In the 63rd minute Tiger took the ball from midfield, controlled it pass three onrushing Xcel players, and placed the ball expertly in the upper right corner of Xcel's net for the 4th goal.

Johnson got his second goal in the 79th, starting a run from about 25 yards out and firing as he closed in. The keeper bravely pushed the shot out, but true to his reputation, Johnson pounced on the rebound and found the net to close the scoring.

OM's defense did a good job, with Captain Todd Miller and Iron Man Mike Rogers repelling all attacks while John McQuarrie and Jeremy Jones patrolled the flanks.

A more vocal Keeper Aaron Bruderer ensured the shoot out.

“Our preseason games have helped us be more match ready than in past season openers.  Indeed the good job Todd Miller is doing with the lads in practice is paying off handsomely.  Todd is a great technical director,” beamed Bel-Ami.

“Miller is good for us.”