OM THUMPS PARK CITY TO COMPLETE CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON
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Brad Pino Stadium.- Cottonwood, Utah (Oct. 17, 2009).--Bosnian midfielder Admir Softic delivered a spectacular goal in the 85th minute to close the scoring as Olympique Montreux clinically defeated Park City Newpark to set the tone for the championship dance that took place after the game.
Admiradona, as Admir is called nowadays for his dribbling and passing skills, was only making his comeback to the Premiership team after weeks out with a calf injury.
Right corner back Kalu18 (12th), midfielder Jimmy Cuadros (29th), full back Luis Garcia (49th), and forward David Chevez (PK, 67th) also scored goals.
“All of the pieces are working just as planned,” said manager Bel-Ami. “We are riding on a wave of success the past few weeks.”
With Jimmy delivering yet another strong performance, and captain Ivan “Tiva” Morales on top of his game, it was only a matter of time before the Olympians took total control of the game despite the workmanlike effort of the men from Summit County.
The only blemish for OM came when Park City scored in the 54th minute as OM keeper Joe Mennino failed to parry a stoppable shot from the right side of the field. The ball sailed over the keeper into the net.
Central defender Michael Smith and Luis Garcia did a good job containing Park City’s early enthusiasm. Park City’s talisman player Antonio Salcedo rarely threatened Bel-Ami’s well-organized men, except for one well-placed pass to a winger. However, OM right back Parker Haycock stepped in and defused the play.
“When a team plays like this, it’s nearly impossible to stop,” said Park City manager Dennis Hogglin. “We’ve got to learn from this, roll up our sleeves and prepare for next season.”
The victory today effectively seals the Premiership title that eluded Olympique Montreux’s Red Devils last year after the side won the trophy the previous three years. The Premiership team finished the season four points ahead of second place Westminster College.
“The difference this year is that most of my players are coachable and follow game plans. The players trust in me and in my abilities. The results speak for themselves,” said Bel-Ami. “Both OM teams are champions in their respective division. I am happy with our achievements.”
Brad Pino Soccer Field ---Cottonwood, UTAH.---Midfielder Jimmy Cuadros scored at the seventh minute to give Olympique Montreux a good start over Westminster College FC in a classico that could potentially decide the league’s Premiership title.
The powerfully built Jimmy scored on a header from a corner kick taken by captain Tiva Olmedo.
Against a side as explosive as Westminster featuring former OM forward Chad “Goal-bert” Gilbert, it was important to start strong.
In the 15th minute, to the home fans’ dismay, forward Luis Orozco drew a red card for elbowing an opponent who was marking him closely. It is rumored that Orozco spat at the player.
“I felt a cold chill as I saw Orozco being ejected,” said OM manager Bel-Ami.
“Westminster is too physical a team to face short-handed. Orozco needs therapy to control his anger issues.”
With Eduardo “Lalo” Romero remaining the sole striker, OM switched to a 4-4-1 formation with Tiva acting as both attacking midfielder and supporting forward for Lalo. Jimmy received instructions to strictly do the holding job in the middle.
In the 25th, Westminster’s long ball strategy paid off as Gilbert latched onto one and leveled the score with a sharp angle shot from seven yards out.
Undaunted, OM maintained its composure, playing its trademark quick one touch soccer and dominating possession. Frustrated, several Westminster players started to play rough.
In the 35th minute, Tiva collected a short pass from midfielder Steve McMurdie from the right side of midfield, drove past a charging Westminster midfielder, and pushed trough the middle. From about 35 yards out, he unleashed an unstoppable left foot shot that found the upper left corner of the net despite the keeper’s desperate dive.
The score remained 2-1 at the break.
If the first half produced some good soccer, the second was full of drama.
As play became rougher and Westminster’s golden boy spewing unsanctioned-in-your-face obscenities at the central referee, the officiating crew appeared to be losing control.
In the 66th minute, OM winger Juan Carlos Chamale was graphically hit from behind while inside the area. The ref had no choice but to point to the penalty spot.
Lalo converted the spot kick. OM, 3 --- Westminster, 1.
In the 70th minute, the referee showed winger Jantzen Romney a second yellow card when a Westminster player took an obvious dive upon contact with the speedy Jantzen.
With eight minutes left in regulation time, the referee ejected OM defender Jacob after a Westminster player was grossly retaliated against the defender by following a tackle. Jacob’s straight red car was unexplainable.
Reduced to eight men total, and Westminster players seeking to draw foul to disqualify OM in a game that they were clearly beaten, the Olympians kept their composure and defended well until the final whistle.
With this win, Olympique Montreux has clinched the 2009 Premiership title, leading Westminster by four points in the standings one game left to play for each team.
Next Saturday, Park City Newpark visits the daunting “Brad Pino” Soccer Field at Cottonwood for the last game of the season. OM will not take its feet of the pedal. .
“:we weren’t supposed to contend for anything this year. We lost many players last season. But we worked hard every week. Teams come at us with all they have. It has been a hard season with ups and downs. OM might bend sometimes. But we never break,” said proud captain Tiva,
“Bel-Ami always says failure is not an option in this jersey.”
Brad Pino Soccer Field (Cottonwood, UTAH).--- Led by the defensive prowess of Colton Spencer, Antonio Casillas and Adam Harris, Olympique Montreux D1 team sped past St.- Patrick’s FC with goals from Cubano, Joe Mannino and Peter Frost.
The Olympians dominated play, denying the ball to their opponents who grew more and more frustrated as Haroldo Darelli and Peter Frost piloted the ship to victory.
Juventino "Cubano" Silva, the team’s leading scorer with 11 goals coming into the match scores in typical predatory fashion in the 12th minute.
Joe Mannino, normally an excellent second goalkeeper for the Premiership, came off the bench to score a spectacular goal with a diving header in the 39th minute on a "Cubano" cross.
The third goal was signed by playmaker Peter Frost on a solo effort that saw him motor past the entire St.-Patrick’s defense.
St.-Patrick’s scored a consolation goal in the waning minutes.
The D1 team is in first place with two games left and can clinch the title with a victory at Westminster-Lazio next Saturday.
“I want this bloody trophy,” screamed an usually clean-mouthed captain Adam Harris, while looking over his shoulder to make sure his bishop did not hear the bloody expletive.
Until the July break this year, the Premiership and the first division team of Olympique Montreux Football Club were on top of their respective table and cruising. The organization had just won the Park City Tournament for the third time in a row (2007, 2008 and 2009).
For the Premiership, it was an unexpected dream start for a squad that was rebuilding after many veteran players opted to leave the organization throughout last season.
Right after winning the prestigious Park City Tournament, however, things began to sour. A rash of injuries in the Premiership followed by a dip in form to some key players set up a poor skid in the standings and in all competitions.
Within weeks, OM lost the chance to contend for all the cups it aspired to win. Even the usually dependable D1 team failed to defend the Utah Challenge Cup it won last season.
The Premiership was eliminated from the Utah Champions League (Daynes Cup), and also from the Utah Open Cup in rapid succession. All thoughts of the Premiership equaling the organization’s 2002 and 2006 successes quickly vanished.
The 2002 and 2006 teams remain Olympique Montreux’s best ever.
In 2002, led by center forward Bel-Ami de Montreux with his predatory goal scoring skills (43 goals in all competitions) and the playmaking talents of the late Alex Pogman, OM went undefeated in all competitions in the Liga LatinoAmericana, winning the Preseason Copa de Utah, the Primera Division Cup and the Interleague Playoffs Cup.
The 2006 side, under the direction of playmaker Nate Murphy and talented forward Sergio Vasquez and Chad Gilbert, won not only the state’s Premiership title, but also the Utah Open Cup and the Daynes Cup at its centennial commemoration.
The spring success of the team this year may have been misleading as to where OM was in the rebuilding process. After all, the side was rebuilding following yet another exodus of the remaining 2006 heroes. John MacQuarrie, Mike Rogers, Chris Kirkpatrick, Josh Kimball and Nate Murphy transferred to Rush Elite at season’s end. The departure of fleet-footed winger Garrett Losee to an LDSChurch mission, and the “announced” LDS mission of young defender Kip also affected the manager’s plans.
A dip in form of last year’s MVP Steve McMurdie and influential midfielder Jantzen Romney, last season’s undisputed star forward and reigning Golden Boot, did not help the team’s position.
Also, concededly, the team’s early successes negatively affected the simple game and the humility the manager was promoting since season’s start. Somehow, young players began to feel invincible and started to play selfish soccer.
While Steve and Jantzen worked hard to rediscover their best form, several important players repeatedly failed to show up for important fixtures despite being on game day sheets. A few more also have failed to maintain their fitness and thus have been unable to contribute.
The bitter mid-season return of a former forward from a poor PDL experience contributed to spoil the script.
The manager sometimes had to improvise starting line ups seconds before games. Often, D1 players had to fill in for absent Premiership stars.
With the situation nearly uncontrollable, the team was forced to sign new players to make it to season’s end.
In July and August, the side went on to drop important points to unlikely opponents, Bosnia USA and UtahValleyUniversity, and experienced a shameful loss to Rush Elite where, as luck would have it, Kip is serving his mission. Funny indeed!
The team experienced a new low at the Telemundo Cup in August in Ogden, Utah. After finishing top seed in pool play and winning the playoff game 5-0 against Idaho United, the following morning, several star players simply did not show up for the semifinal game. OM was beaten 4-0 by WeberState. The team left the tournament in disgrace with its reputation severely dented.
Despite all the adversities and injuries making it difficult for fullbacks Nathan Braun, Clayton Alexander and keeper André Dominguez to play back to back games, the Premiership fought back and clinched the State Premiership Title with one game to play.
The D1 team is in first place by two points with two games left and can clinch the title with a victory at Westminster-Lazio next Saturday.
When analyzing the league’s overall performance, it is quickly evident that this year, as before, other Premiership teams continue to see Olympique Montreux as the team to get ready for.
We definitely welcome that respect and the competition. We are Olympians!
However, when a distinguished soccer organization like Park City Newpark managed to field only 8 or 9 players at home against Westminster just to be pounded 8-0, and a week later brought in a full plate against OM and fight for 90 plus minutes, eyebrows are raised. Same for Rush Elite that lined up a weak team and no goalkeeper against the same Westminster (score: 0-4). Same for Diablos FC for completely failing to show up to face Westminster (forfeit).
It is expected that Bosnia USA will offer inadequate resistance on October 17 when they face Westminster in their season’s finale.
The failure of OM’s opponents to be consistent ruins the competition. Teams cannot call a tied game or a hard fought win against Olympique Montreux the crown achievement of their season. Showing up to play with seven, eight or nine players, showing up drunk or already tired or not showing up at all is very poor sportsmanship.
“Some teams gave the unethical impression that they were losing to Westminster on purpose just to keep Olympique Montreux from winning the title,” opines Bel-Ami.
