TEN MEN OM ELIMINATES RUSH ELITE IN DAYNES CUP ACTION

By  R. C. HICKEY-FREEMAN
Sports Writer

WESTPOINTE PARK, UTAH (LNS) May 24, 2007——Olympique Montreux rallied with goals from Jimmy CUADROS, Justin BRAUN and Louis STALEY to defeat Rush Elite 3-1 in the first round of the Daynes Challenge Cup, an English style single elimination tournament contested by Utah Soccer Association Premiership teams.

Mike Polich’s Rush Elite FC started the game aggressively, giving the Olympians little space to execute.

With a side featuring Mike Nielsen, the most promising young player in his age bracket in Utah, and other speedy wingers, Polich had his men playing effective counter attack football and serving long balls behind the defense.

The strategy paid off in the 17th minute when midfielder Kenny BARTON, a former OM star, looped a long ball behind left back Jeremy JONES for a Rush sprinter to run into and open the score, beating an advancing Martin MARTINEZ.

It was not until the 35th minute that the Olympians, with the introduction of Josh KIMBALL, Dunny DUNSETH and Judd SODERBORG, finally took control of midfield and began to open the Elitists’ well-organized defense marshaled by none other that Tracy McGuire, another former OM star.

In the 40th minute, Jimmy CUADROS who had just entered the game, collected a pass from Josh, dribbled past the left back and placed a powerful shot into the roof of the net to tie the game.  Keeper Noble Larkin had no chance.

In the second half, the Olympians kept up the pressure with an omnipresent Dunny DUNSETH showing the way. In the 58th minute, Justin rose high in the air to head in a well-taken corner by Nate MURPHY.

Ten minutes later, Louis STALEY scored the goal of the season so far.  Taking the ball up field, the number 6 Olympian let rip a powerful strike from some 30 yards out. Larkin’s desperate dive was to naught as the cracking shot found the net.

Reduced to 10 men after keeper Martin got a red card for handling the ball outside the area and still with about 15 minutes left in regulation time, Bel-Ami withdrew his strikers for defensive midfielders to form an impressive barrier to the Elitists’ young runners and to impede Barton’s creativity.

“We came back after falling behind. That shows our competitive character.  These games against Rush Elite are quickly becoming classicos with so many former OM stars lining up for Polich. They definitely want to beat us, but we want them to beat everybody else but us,” said OM manager Bel-Ami.

“How about that Louis Staley strike? Louis’s son must be very proud of his dad.”

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MAN of the Match: Louis STALEY

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CANO CANONIERY race

David Chevez, 11 goals

Jimmy Cuadros, 8

Justin Braun, 8 goals

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STARTING LINE UP

Martin Martinez, John McQuarrie, Chris Kirkpatrick, Nate Murphy, Jeremy Jones, David Chevez, Louis Staley, Justin Braun, Mike Rogers, Jimmy Cuadros, Jesse Day

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SUBSTITUTIONS

Aaron Bruderer, Brian Dunseth, Josh Kimball, Judd Soderborg

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Olympian Notes: 

*Just when Aaron “Air” Bruderer was thinking he was in retirement, he was quickly called into action when Martin got his red card with some 5 minutes to play. Now, Aaron must face in one week mighty Diablos, a team seeking revenge for the 3-0 loss to the Olympians last March at the Spence Eccles Field House.

BRIAN DUNSETH GUIDES OM TO LATE 3-0 WIN OVER RUSH ELITE

By  R. C. HICKEY-FREEMAN
Sports Writer

SALT LAKE CITY, UT. May 16, 2007 [LNS].--Olympique Montreux beat Rush Elite 3-0 on Tuesday at Riverside Park in Utah Premiership Round VI action.

The Olympians tried in vain in the first half to unlock Rush Elite’s compact defense but could not find any combination despite the strikers’ frustrated attempts.  Rush Elite’s keeper Eric Landon did an amazing job stopping the few shots OM strikers could place on target.

Brian Dunseth at the controls

It was not until after the restart that midfielder Brian “Dunny” Dunseth finally turned into pacesetter, guiding the side to an effective game of patient football while creating scoring opportunities.

Striker David “El Tanque” CHEVEZ, took advantage of a confusion in front of goal by some Rush Elite defenders in the 65th minute to blast the ball into the net from about seven yards out.

In the 82nd minute, Nate MURPHY placed the ball on Justin BRAUN’s head to score the second goal. Three minutes later, Nate received a fine pass from an unselfish Justin Braun who could have shot on goal although keeper Landon had closed the angle. 

Showing experience beyond his years, Justin crossed the ball to Nate who then crossed it to a waiting Jesse DAY to score on a header.

All three goals had Dunny’s prints on them. The quick passing and mobility of the former U.S. Olympic soccer team captain helped create space and his verbal instructions showed his pedigree.

“It is good to see we have an air game this season. Just imagine if we had Ricky and Sergio available to bang in goals and young Justin, El Tanque and Jimmy CUADROS operating in the air, we’d be awesome,” said OM manager Bel-Ami after the game.

“Dunny was just awesome for us this evening. We need him to bring this level to each game. That’s what leaders do.”

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MAN of the Match: Brian DUNSETH

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GOAL COUNTER

David Chevez, 11 goals

Jimmy Cuadros, 7

Justin Braun, 7 goals

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STARTING LINE UP

Aaron Bruderer, John McQuarrie, Judd Soderborg, Nate Murphy, Matt Woolley, Jeremy Jones, David Chevez. Louis Staley, Justin Braun, Mike Rogers, Jimmy Cuadros.

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SUBSTITUTIONS

Brian Dunseth, Martin Martinez, Jesse Day, Josh Kimball,

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Olympian Notes:

*Yesterday’s game was a family reunion of sort. Many Rush Elite players previously played for OM. It was good to see Arthur van Wagenen and  General JT CRACROFT, both tenacious midfielders.  JT and his wife. Jessica Murphy, the sister of OM midfielder Nate Murphy, recently welcomed their new son into the family. 

*It was equally good to see MIKE POLICH who helped built the new OM before leaving to form Rush Elite. Mike and his wife Tori also just had a baby girl.  While we wish our good friends good luck with their new team, we are resentful not to have the new babies in OM blue.

*The Olympians will not play again until May 24 when they once more face Rush Elite in a Daynes Challenge Cup game. The Olympians have won the Daynes Challlenge Cup the past two years and look forward to make it a threepeat with a bit of luck.

*Olympian Aaron “Air” Bruderer will be taking it easy the next few months, but remains available to back up in case of injury or necessity. 

TOREADOR JUDD SODERBORG LEADS OM OVER OGDEN LOBOS

 By  R. C. HICKEY-FREEMAN
Sports Writer

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH (LNS) May 12, 2007——Justin BRAUN and Jimmy CUADROS scored one goal each in the second half to keep Olympique Montreux undefeated and alone in first place after a “Sixth Round” Utah Premiership action today at Riverside Park.

Ogden Lobos controlled the game in the first half, with their speedy midfielders causing much trouble for the Olympians’ defense. Bel-Ami’s lads just were not executing their game plan that called for double-teaming the skillful playmakers from northern Utah and to use the wings to open up Ogden’s disciplined defense.

El Tanque firing blanks

Despite their opponents’ better ball possession, the Olympians looked dangerous in the box with leading scorer David “El Tanque” CHEVEZ coming close to opening the score a few times.

In the 10th minute, matador Tanque’s overhead kick looked promising but narrowly missed.

In the 24th minute, wide out man Josh KIMBALL passed to El Tanque who dummied to let the ball for Nate MURPHY who shot wide. In the 40th minute, Chris KIRKPATRICK’s powerful long distance kick hit the bar before bouncing out of bounds.

A few Martin outstanding moments

The men from Ogden looked to do harm down field as well. In the 15th minute, keeper Martin Martinez saved a sure goal with his right foot while diving in the wrong direction. In the 39th minute, Martin was again called into a full dive to punch out a Lobos freekick. 

No ping pong please!

The Olympians went on the field at the restart heeding experienced midfielder Brian DUNSETH’s advice that they were not going to be effective copying Ogden’s long lateral balls. They began to play simple soccer with the industrious Judd SODERBORG showing the way.

The change in attitude and tactics confused Ogden. The Olympians’ back line was able to control the deep, long passes while the midfielders upped their act. In the 55th minute, El Tanque danced through the defense, but fired wide.

Three minutes later, a very mobile Jimmy attempted a diving header from a Nate Murphy corner, but the attractive effort sailed over the bar.

Justin Braun on target

With super strikers Rick Johnson and Sergio Vasquez in attendance, young Justin Braun who had not scored in the last two fixtures exploded on the right side, outpacing his markers and firing a powerful ground shot. The keeper managed to put a hand on the ball but it crossed the white line anyway. 1-0.

Ogden Lobos further panicked after the goal and just could not bring the ball up with Judd showing why he should start as a holding midfielder against Rush Elite next Tuesday.

In the 70th minute, an unmarked Jimmy beat the offside trap, curling the ball home to assure the Olympians sole first place in the standing.

The match finished with Ogden quite angry with the refs for not judging Jimmy offside when he scored the second goal.

Diablos manager, Jerry Balazalatin, and a cohort of Diablos players left the park, looking rather depressed.

“This was a tale of two halves,” said OM manager Bel-Ami. Ogden Lobos is a very good team and we welcome the competition. If they manage to stay together, they will be successful. Sadly though, with “El Diablo” Jerry lurking around, it should not surprise anyone if he lures half of the Ogden Lobos team to his side soon with money offers and other perks…”

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MEn of the Match: Judd SODERBORG

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GOAL COUNTER

David Chevez, 10 goals

Jimmy Cuadros, 7

Justin Braun, 6 goals

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STARTING LINE UP

Martin Martinez, Brian Dunseth, Judd Soderborg, Jesse Day, Nate Murphy, Matt Woolley, Josh Kimball, Jeremy Jones, Todd Miller, David Chevez. Justin Braun.

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SUBSTITUTIONS

John McQuarrie, Chris Kirkpatrick, Mike Rogers, Louis Staley, Aaron Bruderer

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Olympian Notes: It was good to have Sergio and Ricky with us this evening. Both Olympians are injured and facing serious knee surgeries soon. How can we forget that both men combined for more than 40 goals last season when the side won the treble.

"El MURO" MARTIN MARTINEZ SHINES IN BLITZKREIG OVER BOSNIA UNITED

By  R. C. HICKEY-FREEMAN
Sports Writer

WESTPOINTE PARK, UTAH (LNS) May 4, 2007——Olympique Montreux disposed of Bosnia United in clinical fashion in a Utah Premiership “Day V” fixture this evening in West Salt Lake.  

In less than thirty minutes of playing time, David “El Tanque” Chevez struck three times. Not to be outdone, Jimmy Cuadros followed suit with his own hot trick. Nate Murphy, John MacQuarrie and Brian Dunseth also netted in a convincing 9-0 offensive performance. Keeper Martin Martinez had the shoot out.

A ruthless scoring machine

OM, which tops the table after five matches, has earned 15 maximum points. The side is on an unprecedented scoring binge, having tallied 30 times, an average of six goals per game, and conceding only two goals.

Next Saturday, the Olympians may yet be facing their toughest competition of the young season when they host Lobos-Ogden, a Hispanic powerhouse made of all stars from northern Utah.

From the opening whistle, Bel-Ami’s men showed they came to play ball. Winger Jesse Day who is in devastating form picked up where he left off last week, providing a laser sharp ground pass that Nate Murphy redirected into the net to open the floodgates in only the 4th minute.

Barely one minute after, Jesse this time crossed the ball and El Tanque went airborne to head in the third goal. In the 15th minute, Jimmy Cuadros beat the offside trap, rounded the keeper to make it 4-0. In the 22nd minute, Jimmy again scored after eluding a couple of defenders. In the 25th minute, the big striker attempted an overhead kick that barely missed the mark.

You cannot stop a rolling Tank

With the goals coming rather easy and Bosnia United in a state of bewilderment, chasing a fast moving ball, the Bosnian side tried to play physical with Jesse and El Tanque their main targets.

Using his speed and skills, in the 28th minute, striker Tanque, ran through the entire Bosnian defense, eluded off defenders after defenders with fine touches and fired a hard shot on goal. The keeper pantomimed a half dive to no avail. 6-0.

In the 40th minute, Brian came close to scoring on a powerful shot from just outside the area that the keeper barely pushed out. In the 45th minute, captain Todd Miller served a great pass to Jimmy who only had to tap in the seventh goal.

Is Martin Martinez that good ?

With the game out of reach, the Bosnian side never surrendered. They actually made several amazing entries into the area to threaten OM keeper Martin Martinez who showed his worth by making incredible saves to the amazement of his mates and the opponents.

The Olympians took advantage of their comfortable lead to control the game with a series of quick passes. Still, two scoring opportunities were created and converted. In the 61st minute, defender John MacQuarrie dribbled the ball through the defense to score the eighth goal. Brian scored the Olympians’ last goal with a powerful long distance shot in the 78th minute.

 “9-0 is not a bad result. I should not complain. But the Bosnians were able to penetrate five or six times and take dangerous shots that tested Martin’s skills. We cannot afford to play that way against the top teams or it will be very difficult,” said Bel-Ami.

“The way to fix this problem is to be less forward-bound in the big games. But, yes, I am happy for the lads tonight.  They worked hard.”

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MEn of the Match: Jesse Day, Martin Martinez

CANOCANONIERI COUNTER:

David Chevez, 10 goals

Jimmy Cuadros, 6

Justin Braun, 5 goals

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STARTING LINE UP: Martin Martinez, Mike Rogers, John McQuarrie, Jesse Day, Nate Murphy, Matt Woolley, Justin Braun, Jimmy Cuadros, Todd Miller, David Chevez. Jeremy Jones.

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SUBSTITUTIONS: Louis Staley, Brian Dunseth, Chris Kirkpatrick, Josh Kimball