By Jessica LAKEWOOD
Sports Writer
Sports Writer
“When the Great One Scorer comes to write against your name – He marks – not that you won or lost – but how you played the game.”
Grantland Rice (1880-1954)
HOLLADAY, Utah Westminster College routed OM 3-1 and eliminated the two times Daynes Challenge Cup champion from tree-peating.
That disaster occurred only one day after the Olympians were eliminated from the Utah Open Cup race, another title they currently hold, when they allowed Rush Elite to win 2-1 on Tuesday evening at Westpointe Park
The Olympians only have themselves to blame for the disappointing results although it is difficult to comprehend by what alchemy, voodoo or utter incompetence the idiot in charge of scheduling managed to pair the Olympians with two top Premiership teams only one day apart while the likes of Diablos were playing in the same cups against lower divisions or bottom of the table teams.
The players know that each team comes to play them like it is a World Cup final. The same Westminster team that beat the side was trashed 6-3 by Diablos just last week, but rediscovered their manhood against OM.
Tuesday night was truly disappointing as the team’s self-promoted sworn enemy, Mike Polich, and his Rush Elite went throttle up to eliminate OM from the Utah Open Cup. A lively Polich was up and down like never before, leading his men to victory.
Adam Acosta had opened the scoring to give the Olympians a 1-0 lead at the 24th minute. In the 37th minute, thanks to poor ball handling in the area, Rush Elite tied the game. Rush Elite put a lot of pressure and played a great first half.
The Olympians played better and dominated in the second half but conceded a goal in the 73rd minute when Jesse Day who recently defected to Polich & Co. scored from point blank range. Nothing Keeper Martin Martinez could do under the circumstances.
A Judas moment
It was a bitter loss for OM manager Bel-Ami who felt utterly betrayed that key players such as Jesse Day and Matt Woolley abandoned the team for no apparent reason in the middle of the season to suit up for a direct rival.
However, the manager who stood by Jesse Day and looked after him through injuries he picked playing in non-OM games and during stretches when his performance and his form were below par, accepted defeat and praised Polich and his men.
“It was ironic, nevertheless, that Jesse came to shake hands with me after the game,” said Bel-Ami. “It was like Cain to me. A Judas moment.”
Qui vivra verra!
Speculative long balls
Last night, the Daynes Cup semi-final game was another affair altogether, some of the Olympians disobeyed the manager and refused to play their positions or execute game plans.
One player categorically refused to play defensive midfield or in defense, but went up to launch long, speculative passes to nobody in particular. Another refused to step up to his regular striker position and made countless unforced turnovers mostly in the backfield where he took up residence.
The Olympians never threatened the peace of mind of their opponents’ keeper in the second half.
The manager is not without blame for not benching certain players and for failing to send young striker Gareth Losee back for the second half.
In any other context, the manager would be fired today.
I need a hero
“I accept all the blame for the losses. I am a sick competitor. Call it sour grapes if you wish but the callous and unprovoked defection of Jesse Day and Matt Woolley in the middle of the season in addition to injuries to David Chevez, Jimmy Quadros, Sina Alipour, and Justin Braun forced me to rush new players into action too soon. But the new boys did not make any fatal mistake in the game. The loss rests solely on my shoulders for not standing up immediately to the players who had their own agenda,” said Bel-Ami.
“Still, we just do not have the same fire within us anymore. We need a field leader to step up and lead.”
Now all the Olympians have left to fight for is their honor in the games remaining in the regular season.
As they say in Tecpan, Guerrero: A ver! 