TIGER--RRRRRRRRRRRRRRIFIC

Olympique Montreux, 7
Salt Lake SC, 0

Pierre d'Estaim
Sports Writer

WEST JORDAN CITY, UT (September 14, 2006).--Olympique Montreux qualifies for the final of the Utah Open Cup in perfect style by hitting seven goals past an aggressive Salt Lake SC. Kick off was delayed thirty minutes because of a torrential rain with lightning.

Perfect start for Tiger Fitzpatrick

With several talented Utah players on Salt Lake's roster, including midfield ace Dallas Albretsen, OM knew their opponents were a side that deserved plenty of respect. However, it took just five minutes for Tiger to break the deadlock.

It was textbook stuff, with Kenny Barton deftly laying the ball from the by-line towards Tracy McGuire who made it look easy as he flicked it to Tiger to slam dunk a low, hard shot into the back of the net at the fifth minute.

The first goal ripped the confidence out of Salt Lake FC, and within minutes Jesse Day sent the ball home brilliantly to make to make the score 2-0. Seconds later, Tiger provided Sergio Vasquez with a chance that went narrowly wide of the far post.

OM was in total control, with the only danger perhaps being their over-confidence. The early goals, having lulled them into a false sense of security, almost cost the side when Salt Lake played a long ball to a speedy forward.  Keeper Chad Evans had to leave his line to prevent disaster.

In addition to that trek into OM's nerve center, because the players of Salt Lake did not seem at all intimidated in the face of such a storied OM football club featuring the colossal profile of a legend like Todd Miller, they managed to create a few, if timid, chances of their own. These included a serious warning call from Dallas, a former OM player, at the 16th minute, and a dangerous team move that gave Bel-Ami a cold chill as it took place while the Olympians appeared to have relaxed their imperative.

Here comes Kimball

Josh Kimball does not like to wait to get in games. He has a celestial gift to predict when Tracy is tired or if Chad Gilbert will be limping in a minute, or if Sergio, or if Jesse, or if keeper Evans, or...  and… or…

As the half grew older, he became increasingly animated. In he went for Tracy on the right wing in the 25th minute, and sure enough, he scores on great Jesse pass three minutes later. It was with lighting speed that a fully fit Jesse ran past two defenders and served the ball to Kimball who one-timed it into the net.

A peripatetic Miller

With the Olympians actually doing what they practice under the leadership of a very mobile Miller and continuous admonitions from Paul Williams, there were only sparse chances for Salt Lake SC to get a touch of the ball. 

But if the floodgates in the skies had closed for the evening, they were about to open wide on the pitch. OM had a three-goal cushion to take into the break, and despite their strong physical presence, we had seen little to suggest that Salt Lake was going to be capable of turning the game around in the second half.

Borba-dement of skills and goals

The second half got off to as perfect a start as the first. Just three minutes after the break, Tiger sent a curling free kick low towards Vasquez. The forward trapped the ball well, but slipped and lost it when he turned around to shoot.

In the 48th minute, Mauricio Borba made a daring run at the defense, dribbled around four defenders and hammered the ball into the top of the net.

OM was up 4-0, and it was as good as game over.

In the 60th, Mauricio started a tremendous solo effort. On his own and surrounded by defenders, the Argentine juggled the ball left and right to confuse his rivals who clumsily knocked him down inside the penalty area. Kimball was in the area. He confidently grabbed the ball to take the penalty kick. He buried it in. 5-0.

Moments later, Jesse did his own magic on the right side, penetrating and scoring the 6th goal.

With the outcome decided, there was nothing left for Olympique Montreux to prove, and Salt Lake seemed to have opted to renounce to play football, but to merely defend in numbers to keep the score from worsening. The final minutes ticked by with Vasquez, Mauricio, Ricky Johnson, Everton do Prado and Tracy working especially hard to find further goalscoring opportunities, but failing to find the space to do so.

Argentine genius

But there was still time for one more piece of OM magic. Already deep into injury time, Mauricio collected the ball on the right edge of the Salt Lake area and with the Salt Lake players getting increasingly violent, he again pulled one from his Zidane bag of tricks and ended up face to face with just the keeper and the large net. He put it in. 7-0

It was an unstoppable finish and the mark of a genius. The Olympians have been amazing in the Utah Open Cup campaign. On the strength of their performance this week, one can expect thrilling things to come in the final on October 24 against Bosnia USA.

OM BEATS RAGING YETIS, QUALIFIES FOR OPEN CUP SEMIFINAL

Olympique Montreux, 9
Raging Yetis, 0

Pierre d'Estaim
Sports Writer

WEST JORDAN, UT. (Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2006).-Mauricio Borba starred in an emphatic victory as Raging Yetis was swept aside by a crusading Olympique Montreux team in superb form at this crucial point in the season.

OM dominated from the start in a one-sided first half. The pace and power of Ricky Johnson, coupled with the cunning and finesse of Tiger Fitzpatrick and Kenny Barton effectively killed the game off in the early minutes.

With Mike Rogers giving a near-perfect performance, the absent Todd Miller was not missed and Bel-Ami's team will be brimming with confidence ahead of Thursday's Utah Open Cup semifinal and Saturday’s clash with Bosnia United.

Miller rested

Nobody was surprised that Todd took a break and that Bel-Ami lined up MR at the heart of the defense with the equally fearsome General JT Cracroft alongside him. The recently bald GeneralC racroft had a fantastic first half. With Kenny and Tiger providing midfield steel in front of the back four, the Olympians were rarely troubled defensively.

This game was Ricky’s first start of the season having been in impressive form lately.

Teamwork pays off

OM got off to a perfect start. In the 12th minute, Ricky opened the scoring, completing a stunning team effort. Chad Gilbert combined well with Tiger and Kenny outside the penalty area before presenting the ball on a tray to iron man Johnson who slotted home. The dummy run of Sergio Vasquez was crucial in helping pull the defense apart. Sergio was at his marauding best in the first half. Jesse Day was on fire early on, serving golden crosses upon golden crosses.

In the 20th minute, the Olympians went a gear higher. In the 24th Kenny almost finished a fine move from Tiger, and two minutes later Ricky scored again when JT’s laser-sharp pass forced a defensive error.

The Olympians came back in the second half with mayhem in mind.

In the 47th minute, Everton do Prado kicked over the bar.  Tracy McGuire came close as well barely one minute after.  Eight minutes later, Nate Murphy forced the keeper into an acrobatic dive to save what looked like a sure goal.

In the 60th minute, Mauricio set up Chad who coolly nutmegged the goalkeeper to the delight of Bel-Ami and the fans.

Five minutes later, Jesse caused an own goal as the keeper spilled his powerful shot and a hurried defender booted into his own net. In the 69th minute, Mauricio did a Zidane with the defenders and scored a sweet little goal.

Not be outdone, Sergio made sure to tally on a golden pass from Tiger. Mauricio closed the scoring with a penalty kick in the 80th minute.

Thereafter, the Olympians served a lesson in ball control. With the game won, OM kept Raging Yetis at arms’ length while still creating some thrilling football.

If the first half was all about Ricky Johnson, the last twenty minutes was about the “Boss,” Paul Williams. The veteran center back was a rock at the heart of the defense and, with Jeremy Jones and John McQuarrie looking equally solid, the defensive performance was solid.

In the closing stages, with one eye on the Open Cup quarterfinal in two days, and the much-anticipated Bosnia United derby on Saturday, Bel-Ami made the most of the opportunity to rest some tired legs and give some important minutes to other players.

RAMPAGING OLYMPIANS DOMINATE UTAH FC IN LEAGUE GAME

Pierre d'Estaim

Sports Writer

Olympique Montreux, 7
Utah FC, 0

_____________________________________________________________

OM has scored 71 goals and conceded only 11 in all competitions since April 21.

Leading Scorers:    

Sergio Vasquez, 19 goals

Rick Johnson, 11 goals

Chad Gilbert, 9 goals

Nate Murphy, 6 goals

_____________________________________________________________

________________________________________________


WEST SALT LAKE, Utah, Sept 9, 2006. (LNS). - Rick Johnson scored a treble to help Olympique Montreux beat visiting Utah FC 7-0 in league play at Riverside Park Saturday evening.

Nate Murphy scored a brace. Chad Gilbert and Mauricio Borba each added one goal to help the team maintain first place in the Premiership.

Utah FC started the Game with confidence, repeatedly entering the area to force keeper Aaron Bruderer into full dives to protect his net.

The second coming of Rick Johnson

Powered by the incredible pace of their number 10 Brazilian forward operating on the left wing, the Utes, as the side from the University of Utah is also known, showed they wanted to avoid a repeat of the 5-1 shellacking Todd Miller & Co. gave them a fortnight ago in Utah Open Cup action.

In the 23rd minute, Sergio Vasquez took advantage of one of the Utes' full press attack to win the ball from an opponent's feet. He then made a long blind pass up front. Gilbert latched on to the ball, skipped past the keeper and gently placed it in the empty net.

Then came Johnson off the bench just like last Thursday. For a player who was added to the roster barely minutes before game time, Johnson made an instant impact upon coming on the field in the 30th minute to score with his first touch.

In obviously impressive form, Johnson went on a rampage, running straight at Utah FC's defense times and times again. In the 40th minute, he rammed in a powerful kick after receiving a pass from Ken Barton.

The forward could have made it a hat-trick two minutes later, but his diving header narrowly missed.

An impressive defensive record

Three minutes after the break, Murphy took a pass from Chad Gilbert and scored. The midfielder tallied again the 50th minute after dribbling past the defense.

Johnson finally got his third goal on a penalty (74th minute). Mauricio Borba closed the scoring with the seventh goal of the evening (85th minute). 

With the ball really tired from all the bouncing, kicking, heading, dribbling and goals, the referees blew the final whistle in the 93rd minute, 

“RJ is an unbelievable striker. His importance to the side cannot be denied,” Bel-Ami said of Johnson after the game. "He is relentless and unselfish. He does not care if he starts or not, he just makes the most of each opportunity he gets.”

It is worth to mention that Olympique Montreux has scored an astonishing 71 goals so far in all competitions and conceded only 11. "The offense, defense and our keepers must be credited for such a high achievement," also said Bel-Ami.

GAMES AND RESULTS

Friday, April 21, 2006, Olympique Montreux, 3 -- Odyssey Web, 0

Wednesday, April 26, 2006, Olympique Montreux, 8 -- ZLC, 2

Saturday, April 29, 2006, Olympique Montreux, 3 - American Ninjas, 0

Saturday, May 6, 2006, Olympique Montreux, 7 -- Bosnia United, 0

Wednesday, May 10, 2006, Olympique Montreux, 1 -- Team Excel, 0

Saturday, May 13, 2006, Olympique Montreux, 4 -- Bosnia USA, 0

Tuesday, May 16, 2006, Olympique Montreux, 1 -- Lazio, 1

Saturday, June 3, 2006, Olympique Montreux, 3 -- Utah FC, 1

Saturday, June 10, 2006, Olympique Montreux, 3 -- Salt Lake SC, 0

Thursday, June 22, 2006, Park City Newpark, 1-- Olympique Montreux, 0

Saturday, June 26, 2006, Olympique Montreux, 5, Bosnia USA, 0

Saturday, August 5, 2006, Olympique Montreux, 1 -- ZLC, 0 (forfeit)

Tuesday, August 8, 2006, Olympique Montreux, 5 -- Team Xcel, 0

Saturday, August 12, Olympique Montreux, 1 -- Pan World, 0 (forfeit)

Wednesday, August 16, 2006, Olympique Montreux, 2, Lazio, 2

Saturday, August 19, 2006, Olympique Montreux, 8 --Odyssey Web, 0

Tuesday, August 22, 2006, Olympique Montreux, 5 -- Utah FC, 1

Thursday, September 7, 2006, Olympique Montreux, 5 -- Red Star, 0

Saturday, September 9, 2006, Olympique Montreux, 7 -- Utah FC, 0

NB. Not counting two forfeit wins, the side has scored 71 goals in regulation play.  The victory over Utah Mix on April 29, 2006 is posted on the league's website as a victory over American Ninjas.

PEDESTRIAN OLYMPIANS CRANK IT UP LATE TO BEAT RED STAR

Olympique Montreux, 5
Red Star, 0

Pierre d'Estaim
Sports Writer

WEST SALT LAKE, Utah. Sept. 7, 2006. (LNS). - With his two sons, two months old Karson and big brother Kobie, in attendance, proud papa Sergio Vasquez and iron man Ricky Johnson came off the bench in the last quarter of the first half to spark the offense after the Olympians squandered many chances to emphasize their class and demoralize First Division side Red Star in a Utah Open Cup game at Riverside Park on Thursday night.

Although they condemned Red Star to just defend in its own half of the pitch for long stretches of time, the Olympians just could not find the target, firing blanks over and wide.

A smorgasbord of missed chances

The Olympians could not convert their dominion of the ball into goals.  They appeared to want to walk it easy. Everton do Prado had the first chance to open the score in the third minute. With the net wide open, the unlucky Brazilian shot wide when an easy tap-in would suffice.

This was followed by a succession of glaring misses. In the 8th minute, winger Jesse Day shot over the bar. Two minutes later, forward Chad Gilbert missed a good opportunity.  In the 13th minute, winger Jake Cavanaugh slashed through the defense, but the keeper easily collected his effort.

In the 17th and 20th minute, Josh Kimball had two good looks, but he kicked in the keeper's waiting hands. In the 21st minute, a Barton strike sailed away. Murphy took a good shot in the 25th, but the omnipresent Red Star keeper made a fabulous save.

With half time fast approaching, it seemed like the first division team would weather the storm. In the 29th minute, a Red Star forward sent a speculative strike well behind keeper Chad Evans.  The ball teasingly glided over the bar to the relief of Evans.

Send in the surgical crew

Vasquez, Ricky Johnson and Tracy McGuire subbed in in the 30th minute and went straight for the juggernaut. Vasquez scored with his first touch when the goalie spilled a hard Murphy shot at the 33rd minute. The striker pounced on the rebound and sent the ball into the net. Three minutes later, he was at it again, scoring with a curving shot from just outside the penalty box.

Vasquez created the second goal when he controlled a pass from Barton to place the ball in the path of Johnson who could not miss in the 42nd minute.

Better late than never

The Olympians went back on the field for the second half determined to show why they are the league's putative top players and top team.

At the hour mark, Mike Rogers headed the ball to Day who in turn headed it in the net. To make the score 4-0.

Defender Paul Williams volleyed in a Day corner kick in the 67th minute to close the scoring.

Red Star worked hard for a consolation goal, but John McQuarrie and his fellow defenders would have none of that.

With this win, OM is qualified for the quaterfinals round of the Utah Open Cup and will face giant killer Raging Yetis next Tuesday. Raging Yetis, another First Division team, has been a raging machine, having so far downed two Premiership giants, Odyssey Web and Bosnia United, in Open Cup play. Will the Olympians be able to contain them?

OLYMPIANS ON COURSE TO WIN THREE THROPHIES THIS SEASON

Daynes Challenge Cup, Utah Open Cup and League Title up for Grab

Pierre d'Estaim
Sports Writer

Holladay, UT (Sunday, Sept. 3)--With its place already booked for the Daynes Challenge Cup final on October 21, Olympique Montreux is on the right track to win, not two, but three trophies this season.

Latest information suggests that Park City, whom the Olympians defeated 3-0 last year to win the centennial game of the Daynes Challenge Cup may again be their challenger for Utah's oldest and most prestigious award.

Lazio, a team that does not feature in the cups races, has played all its league games on an accelerated schedule and leads in the standings by only one point according to the league's latest posting on its web site, www.utahsoccer.com.

League officials have yet to credit OM for a forfeit win over ZLC on August 5 when it was announced that ZLC could not make the fixture for lack of personnel and that the game would not be rescheduled. Likewise, the table does not yet count Park City's loss to Bosnia USA on August 19.

With Lazio gone, the remaining teams still must play six league games before the end of the season. If OM and its old nemesis Park City maintain their current form going down the stretch, it appears that the league title will be a dead heat between them.

The Snowmen defeated the Olympians 1-0 in the first part of the season to take the lead by two points. However, their dropping all three points to a resurgent Bosnia USA on August 19 should have them trailing the Olympians by one point.  In the meantime, OM has been in devastating form, winning all its league, Daynes and Utah Open Cup games.

The side will face Red Star at Riverside on August 7 for an Open Cup game. If successful, it will go on to play in the competition's quarterfinals on September 12. Semifinal games are set for September 14 and the final will be held on October 28, a week after the Daynes Challenge Cup final.

“Winning the treble would be a fitting tribute to our older players who have given so much to the side," said Bel-Ami, OM's manager. “We have had some crisis this season and lost some important players. But we are moving on.”

Indeed, in the past month, Arthur van Wagenen, his brother Hugh and Mike Polich left the team for various technical and personal reasons. The side released Kyle Copeland and Matt Smith and brought in reinforcement when it acquired former Real Salt Lake and Trinidad international Leslie Tiger Fitzpatrick for the remainder of the season.

OM also signed Mauricio Borba, a gifted Argentine striker and Brazilian attacking midfielder Everton do Prado. However, it could not to bring either Brian Alba or Brian Dunseth to shore up the defense. An important target, exciting left-winger Louis Staley had already committed to another organization.

Disclaimer: All representations in this article are those of the author. Please consult the league's web site, www.utahsoccer.com, or contact the league's president for accurate standing, scheduling information and league policy.

OLYMPIQUE MONTREUX OVERPOWERS PAST BOSNIA USA 5-0

Pierre d' Estaim
Sports Writer

West Salt Lake, UT (League News Service)(August 26, 2006) - Jeremy Jones curled in a free kick in the 22nd minute to open the floodgate in a five-goal victory over Bosnia USA at Riverside Park on Saturday night.

The Olympique Montreux midfielder curled the ball over the tall Bosnian defensive wall from 27 yards to power his team in the much-anticipated fixture.

It did not look very promising before Jones's goal. The Bosnian side began the game playing good soccer behind the good technics of their number 10 playmaker Branislav Nicolic and with a defense featuring two former OM stars, 2001 hero Alija Hijdarevic on the left and the dynamic Sasha Vidic on the right side.

However, the tide shifted after the opening goal as the Olympians finally set in motion their superior passing and quick ball movement. Nate Murphy, Todd Miller  and Ken Barton took over the midfield while wingers Jesse Day and Josh Kimball opened up the pitch. Defender Paul Williams, back from injury, looked strong and commanding. 

Exasperated by the Olympians' apparent monopoly of the ball, several Bosnian players started dishing out hard fouls.

OM led 3-0 after the first half with goals from Josh Kimball (30th) and Everton do Prado (35th).

If you can't beat them, kick them

It was academic by the second half. Leading by three goals but bruised by too many fouls from an opponent with many players disrespecting the spirit of the game, the Olympians knew that maintaining possession of the ball was their best chance to avoid serious injury. They executed perfectly, one-touching and moving quickly.

The ball was doing most of the running. Psychologically defeated, some the Bosnians increased the hard fouling, mostly targeting frontman Sergio Vasquez and midfileder Tiger Fitzpatrick.

Cruising home

At the hour mark, Day placed a wonderful ball in the penalty area. Kimball found it to score his second goal with attractive simplicity. Two minutes later, Barton connected with Cavanaugh who volleyed in the fifth goal.

By then, Bosnia USA was reduced to nine men after their forward Admir Softic and later, their captain Adis Alagic, were ejected after several warnings by the referee.

With this victory, OM won three games in one week. On August 22, the side defeated Odyssey Web 8-0. On August 24, the Olympians ran past Utah FC to a 4-1 result.

“We outscored our opponents 17 goals to one in seven days.  That's very encouraging,” said stalwart midfielder Todd Miller.

“We have good momentum going down the stretch.”

LAZIO AND OLYMPIQUE MONTREUX PLAY TO 2-2 THRILER

GK AARON BRUDERER SHINES IN PENALTY KICKS VICTORY

Regulation: Lazio 2, OM 2
PKs: OM 4, Lazio 2

Pierre d'Estaim
League News Service

SUGARHOUSE, UT. (LNS) - Olympique Montreux star Chad Gilbert scored one goal and playmaker Nate Murphy added another this evening as OM came from behind twice to tie Lazio at Westminster College's Dorich Stadium in a league game.

True to their reputation for being strong at home, Lazio took advantage of a defensive error at the 30th minute to take the lead. OM nearly equalized on a Tiger Fitzpatrick's free kick at the 37th minute, but the Trinidad International's bending shot missed by a hair's breadth.

Lazio pumped up the pressure after that narrow escape. Showing their superior form, they kept the Olympians on their heels throughout the first half.

--A charmed crossbar

The Olympians' first goal came in the 50th minute when captain Todd Miller took the ball form his own area, found winger Jesse Day who rapidly connected with Gilbert. The fleet-footed marksman made sure to burry the ball in Lazio's net with authority.

The momentum shifted after Gilbert's goal. Displaying a number 10 performance, Tiger took control of midfield along with playmaker Murphy.  They began finding wingers Tracy McGuire and Jake Cavanaugh to open the Lazio defense.

Forward Ricky Johnson came close a number of times. But for the heroics of Lazio's keeper, and a sympathetic crossbar, Johnson could have given OM a good lead.

In the 63rd and 67th minutes, Gilbert had two beautiful kicks bounce off Lazio's charmed crossbar.

--Air Bruderer in full flight

Lazio scored a cracking goal in the 72nd minute, but OM answered less that five minutes later after excellent team work involving rapid one touch passes between Day, Johnson, Tiger and JT Cracroft.

The score remained tied in regulation time. The Olympians won the game in the ensuing penalty kicks thanks to the superb goaltending of Aaron Bruderer who stopped two PKs, including one by former OM midfielder turned Lazio player Ike James.

Bruderer, the league's top goalkeeper in all statistical categories made several important saves in the game to take away man of the match honors from Tiger.

--A roaring Tiger on the loose

Tiger Fitzpatrick's performance stood out though. "Tiger is truly a special player," said Bel-Ami, the Olympians' manager. "Wearing the number 10 of a winner, he played like one. With so many teams in MLS struggling, you would think he'd get a call by now.”

--It's OK to clear the ball out ugly

"I must give special credit to the defense and Aaron. Lazio is a very young and fit team, very fit.  They always give us a hard time. Our defense responded great. We can learn from playing teams like Lazio.  I have one complaint. We need to clear the ball out more often. There comes a time, as McGuire says, if it looks like half of a danger, kick the ball down field like the pros.  We need to do that more often.”

NOTE: Forward Everton made his OM debut and came close to scoring on a pretty header that narrowly missed. Once he is used to the altitude, he will be a handful for opponents.

OM line up:  Aaron Bruderer, Jeremy Jones, Todd Miller (captain), Ken Barton, Jesse Day, Nate Murphy, Leslie Tiger Fitzpatrick, Chad Gilbert,  Jake Cavanaugh, Everton Do Prado.

Subs:  Tracy McGuire, Josh Kimball, Mauricio Borba, JT Cracroft, Ricky Johnson.

Subs not used: Tahoe, Chad Evans.

OLYMPIQUE MONTREUX OVERWHELMS TEAM XCEL 5-0

By Pierre d'Estaim
Sports Writer

Kaysville, UT (League News Service (LNS) August 8 -- Ricky Johnson scored twice and Leslie “Tiger” Fitzpatrick tallied on his debut as Olympique Montreux clinched a berth in the Daynes Challenge Cup by beating Team Xcel 5-0 on Tuesday at the Davis Applied Technology Center.

The large victory put OM into a dominating position for the semifinal game this coming Saturday at West Jordan Soccer Complex when the side takes on the winner of the lions of  Pan World FC who defeated Utah F.C.  this evening.

In Tuesday's other Daynes Challenge Cup game, Park City Newpark faced Odyssey Web.

Chad Gilbert scored with a twelve yards bounding shot in the 13th minute after good work by playmakers Ken Barton and Nate Murphy who is having an MVP season so far.

Marksman Sergio Vasquez came close to scoring a few times but Xcel's defense followed him closely and played him tightly.  Ricky Johnson scored on a header in the 38th minute.

In the second half, Gilbert turned playmaker when he served a great pass to JT Cracroft in the 48th minute. Cracroft made sure not to waste his chance, having not been seen since the Park City Tournament a month ago.

“JT never lets us down. We expect great things from him. He needs to find a way to make it to practice to justify his selection in the team,” said Bel-Ami, OM's manager.

In the 63rd minute Tiger took the ball from midfield, controlled it pass three onrushing Xcel players, and placed the ball expertly in the upper right corner of Xcel's net for the 4th goal.

Johnson got his second goal in the 79th, starting a run from about 25 yards out and firing as he closed in. The keeper bravely pushed the shot out, but true to his reputation, Johnson pounced on the rebound and found the net to close the scoring.

OM's defense did a good job, with Captain Todd Miller and Iron Man Mike Rogers repelling all attacks while John McQuarrie and Jeremy Jones patrolled the flanks.

A more vocal Keeper Aaron Bruderer ensured the shoot out.

“Our preseason games have helped us be more match ready than in past season openers.  Indeed the good job Todd Miller is doing with the lads in practice is paying off handsomely.  Todd is a great technical director,” beamed Bel-Ami.

“Miller is good for us.”

OM LOSES FOR FIRST TIME SINCE JOINING UTAH SOCCER ASSOCIATION

By Pierre d'Estaim
Sports Writer

Park City, 1
Olympique Montreux, 0

Park City, UT (Wednesday, June 22).--Olympique Montreux coach Bel-Ami de Montreux believes that extreme fatigue and injuries to some key players contributed to the team's poor performance and defeat this evening at Park City.

Indeed, OM loses for the first time in regulation time since July 2004.

Taking nothing away from the workmanlike performance of a determined and well-organized Park City side, perhaps Bel-Ami has a point since many of his first choice players were called upon to play for Coach Chris  Dorich's Utah Select Team in last weekend's regional tournament.

True to his reputation, Liam Hanafer, the Snowmen's reputable set pieces specialist stepped up in the 20th minute to take the free kick at the edge of the area, and buried the ball in Aaron Bruderer's net.

The Olympians played the first half without their usual zeal and nose for the ball. The forwards and the midfielders could not come back fast enough and the defense lagged some 30 yards behind the offense, creating a huge gap in the side.

The Snowmen took advantage of OM's pedestrian display, controlling the center of midfield and dominating possession although they never really threatened Bruderer after Liam's goal.

As as been the case often recently, the Olympians coughed up the ball too much. Lately, the side appears unable to string passes for any significant time, and turns the ball over at an astonishing rate.

“Too many of our key men are just too damn exhausted.  Way too much soccer!” lamented Bel-Ami. “It makes no sense that the Select people would take seven, eight of our best players and make them play and Friday, and Saturday, and Sunday, and give them back to me battered, tired, and injured just a couple of days before the most important fixture of the season so far.”

Captain Todd Miller, who of course was on duty for Coach Dorich all-weekend-long, had to pull out of the game after eight minutes with a muscle tear in his upper right thigh. Losing Miller was a tremendous blow to a side that relies on the player's versatility, vision, ability and leadership qualities.

The team's main creative player, Nate Murphy, appeared to have blisters on his toes although the talented midfielder would never admit it. However, it is well known that Murphy was the victim of some violent fouls in the regional tournament.

Prolific goal scorers Sergio Vasquez and Chad Gilbert looked dog-tired early on, having been used too much in last weekend's jaunt.

While fellow Select teammates John McQuarrie and  Mike Rogers held their own, they were not at their usual high level, and relied heavily on the tireless display of young Kyle Copeland and Man of the Match JT Cracroft to keep the Snowmen from adding to their 1-0 advantage.

With fullback Paul Williams unavailable, cornerback Jeremy Jones and midfielder Arthur van Wagenen injured, the Olympians could not take advantage of their numeric advantage, even after Park City lost a player to a red card.

“To me, our players just did not have enough time to recuperate from their marvelous weekend crusade. That regional tournament put paid to our chances to recover and win this important game. Our men need to bear in mind that they are not professional soccer players. Many have wives and kids. They must work real jobs to help support their families. It seems irrational to me that they are risking serious injuries over-playing although they are perhaps the best soccer talents in the state and that it must generate quite a gush of pride to be selected to represent the Beehive state,” Bel-Ami whined. "Besides, Utah has never produced a world class player because of the way the young men are used."

The case of winger Jesse Day illustrates this tricky situation.

Day who has not played in a competitive fixture since early winter last year because of a serious ankle injury, and who barely came back to training two weeks ago after extended therapy was rushed into Utah Select action last weekend, although the player was obviously not ready.

“Of course there is no contact between me and the Utah Select coaching staff. The player just requests his player pass, takes his wife and children and off he goes to play Select soccer. I do not get to give my opinion on any particular player's fitness although I am best situated to know as this team's manager, explicated Bel-Ami.

“When the player is injured it is OM's problem. My problem. We have to support him and show him we care. Once the player can barely kick again, he is taken away, ran ragged, and again he is exposed to injury. That's not fair to the squad although the player cannot not refuse a call up for fear he might not be called again in retaliation.”

One thing for sure, OM is in a quagmire when its players underperform because they are worn out. The side is risking dropping games to poorer opposition and not winning trophies this season if the players are not men enough to protect themselves against over usage and just say no.

OLYMPIANS BACK ON THE JOB AFTER “REAL” SALT LAKE NIGHTMARE

Olympique Montreux, 3
Salt Lake FC, 0

By Pierre d'estaim
Sports Writer

West Jordan, UT. (Saturday, June 10).--Mike Polich took advantage of some shaky defense to score a first-half goal, and the Olympians cruised to a 3-0 victory Saturday night in the first league game after an utterly poor performance against the Real Salt Lake Reserves team in a scrimmage last Monday at Waterford School.

"Last Monday was savage," forward Todd Miller said. "We made it is so difficult on ourselves.  We did not play for each other."

“We were outclassed by their fitness,” added midfielder Tracy McGuire.

Poor fitness and freelance soccer

The poor showing against RSL left the Olympians questioning their skill level, and wondering what went wrong.

“What went wrong,” Bel-Ami explained, “is that we have been over-confident. Stiffly cocky, feeling that we could just show up and win anytime. Some of the players think they are all stars on the team and that they do not need to be coached, kind of like last year’s Lakers in the NBA. Some of the men do not follow advise from the sideline. And boom! Real Salt Lake forces us to reassess where we are as a team. Players are dead wrong to think they are too good to be coached, that they can freelance, do stepovers and whatever. It just does not work. Or else, Brazil would not need a coach!”

A collective performance

After a good practice last Thursday stressing team work and total soccer, the Olympians came to work this afternoon and got a very good result. Chad Gilbert, a key to OM's unbeaten league run, got the side’s second goal in the 49th minute. After latching on to a pass some 30 yards away from goal, took it on a solo run past the opposition and scored.

OM outshot Salt Lake FC 13-3, with Nate Murphy getting six shots alone.

Salt Lake FC nearly took the lead in the 14th minute, when goalkeeper Chad Evans failed to clear a ball that defender Paul Williams had passed back to him. The Salt Lake FC forward, with only Evans to beat, kicked the ball over the bar and into the cheap seats.

Williams scored in the 64th minute to put the game beyond reach. After that, the Olympians maintain possession of the ball until the final whistle.

"I hope we continue to do a collective job,” Bel-Ami said, "but I think if we do, we probably will not score five, six or seven goals in each game, but we will play well rounded soccer and earn effective wins."

Notes:

On June 3, 2006, Olympique Montreux beat Utah FC, the University of Utah club team, 3-1, with goals by Sergio Vasquez, Chad Gilbert and Nate Murphy. Mauricio Borba, Utah FC's gifted Argentine striker, netted his team's lone goal in the final minutes.

Notes:

Midfielder Jesse Day played solidly for 60 minutes. Day has been injured (ankle) since last winter. A pure left side midfield player, he made his presence felt early with great crosses.

The poor showing against RSL left the Olympians questioning their skill level, and wondering what went wrong.

“What went wrong,” Bel-Ami explained, “is that we have been over-confident. Stiffly cocky, feeling that we could just show up and win anytime. Some of the players think they are all stars on the team and that they do not need to be coached, kind of like last year’s Lakers in the NBA. Some of the men do not follow advise from the sideline. And boom! Real Salt Lake forces us to reassess where we are as a team. Players are dead wrong to think they are too good to be coached, that they can freelance, do stepovers and whatever. It just does not work. Or else, Brazil would not need a coach!”

A collective performance

After a good practice last Thursday stressing team work and total soccer, the Olympians came to work this afternoon and got a very good result. Chad Gilbert, a key to OM's unbeaten league run, got the side’s second goal in the 49th minute. After latching on to a pass some 30 yards away from goal, took it on a solo run past the opposition and scored.

OM outshot Salt Lake FC 13-3, with Nate Murphy getting six shots alone.

Salt Lake FC nearly took the lead in the 14th minute, when goalkeeper Chad Evans failed to clear a ball that defender Paul Williams had passed back to him. The Salt Lake FC forward, with only Evans to beat, kicked the ball over the bar and into the cheap seats.

Williams scored in the 64th minute to put the game beyond reach. After that, the Olympians maintain possession of the ball until the final whistle.

"I hope we continue to do a collective job,” Bel-Ami said, "but I think if we do, we probably will not score five, six or seven goals in each game, but we will play well rounded soccer and earn effective wins."

Notes:

On June 3, 2006, Olympique Montreux beat Utah FC, the University of Utah club team, 3-1, with goals by Sergio Vasquez, Chad Gilbert and Nate Murphy. Mauricio Borba, Utah FC's gifted Argentine striker, netted his team's lone goal in the final minutes.

Notes:

Midfielder Jesse Day played solidly for 60 minutes. Day has been injured (ankle) since last winter. A pure left side midfield player, he made his presence felt early with great crosses.