TODD MILLER WINS MOST VALUABLE PLAYER AWARD

20 GOALS SERGIO VASQUEZ RETAINS GOLDEN BOOT CROWN

Pierre d'Estaim
Sports Writer

JORDAN LANDING, UT. (Nov. 14, 2006), [LNS].-Two weeks after his audacious nutmegging and cheeky goal scoring exploits in the Utah Open Cup final, Todd Miller won Olympique Montreux's Most Valuable Player Award by a landslide 17 first place votes.

Central defender Paul Williams and Midfielder Nate Murphy tied for second place. Goalkeeper Aaron Bruderer also received MVP votes.

Sergio Vasquez retained his “Capo Canonieri” status with 20 official goals in all competitions.

Todd and Sergio were given trophies to memorialize their achievements and all the Olympians received Treble Winner medals and their favorite jersey as a token of appreciation for winning three major titles this year, the Utah Premiership League (UPL) Championship, the Centennial Daynes Challenge Cup Championship, and the Utah Open Cup Championship--indeed a Treble!

The Olympians celebrated their successful year with family and friends at The Grille from Ipanema, an upscale Brazilian Barbecue Restaurant at the fashionable Jordan Landing district.

MVP Todd is a legend in Utah soccer. He graduated from Alta High School in 1992, and was named Utah's most valuable soccer player by the Salt Lake Tribune and the Deseret News that year. 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 Utah amateur powerhouse International FC before transferring to OM in the winter of 2005.

Todd is married to his wife Calli for ten years. They have two daughters, Abbey and Emmy. He works as a computer programmer for IKANO Communications.

Miller has been instrumental in the team's most successful season since its creation in 1999. Often acting as a role model and a technical advisor, he helps run practices and motivates players on and off the field. 

“Todd's best quality is that he does not have a big head. He is modest despite his enormous talents. He would score an amazing goal and humbly say that he was just lucky. When necessary, Todd will take over a game, change the dynamic and get us the points,” said team manager Bel-Ami. 

“He is quite an asset who can star anywhere on the field except in goal.  Todd usually journeys from forward to midfield only to end up in defense to protect a victory. That's an MVP in anybody's book.” 

Star fullback Jeremy Jones said it best in commenting that Todd could have gone to Europe after college and he could have played for the likes of Milan or Real Madrid. But he fell in love with Calli and today, other than his two daughters, OM is the fortunate beneficiary of that great love. 

“He packs a lot of weight. He makes us better,“ added midfielder Tracy McGuire.

Indeed Olympique Montreux can be proud of “field commander” Todd Miller for all he has done and continues to do for the side.

Most memorable Miller moment

…It's Miller time!

…At the hour mark, the Tiger and Todd combination paid a handsome dividend. Taking the ball from midfield, Tiger faked left, then faked right, went right anyway as his marker stumbled and fell, passed to Todd who beat a defender,  nutmegged a second and audaciously rounded Ismel to slot the ball into the empty net. A beautiful goal it was! 2-0.

At the Utah Open Cup Final against Bosnia USA
Westminster College Stadium
October 21, 2006.