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.