“MAESTRO” NATE MURPHY 2007 MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

"MAESTRO" NATE LED OM TO 9 TITLES IN THREE YEARS

BY RALPH LAUREN
SPORTS WRITER

MIDVALE, UTAH (LNS) December 5, 2007-Olympique Montreux players overwhelmingly voted midfielder Nate Murphy the team's Most Valuable Player for the 2007 season. The Olympians' choice was revealed at the team's Annual Dinner Award held this year at the Italian restaurant Bucca di Bepo in Midvale.

As expected, forward DAVID “EL TANQUE' CHEVEZ won the golden boot for scoring 22 goals in all competitions despite missing more than a month with a hand injury.

The Olympians also voted “IRON” MIKE ROGERS, the Defensive Player of the Year, and goalkeeper MARTIN “SPIDERMAN' MARTINEZ was recognized as the league's best for his incredible goaltending exploits this year. In over twenty games, only eight goals got past the Argentine arquero.

All of the players received a champion medal for winning the league's top division for the third time in as many years.  The team also honored last year captain Paul Williams with a plaque for his contributions to the team.

MVP Nate is the son of John and Ranae Murphy, committed soccer parents who followed their son's evolution in Utah soccer over the years as Nate excelled for many teams including his youth teams Sparta and Firebird and the regional Olympic Development Program.

Nate starred for Alta High School and the Utah Salt Rats, a former PDL Premier Development League team, before joining OM. He is a regular on the Utah State Select Team.

He is married to his wife Alecia for five years, works with his father in the family's plumbing and radiant heating business and holds a real estate license. Nate also is a professional snowboarder in the winter but his passion is coaching soccer to youths in the valley. He is currently the assistant coach of the Olympique Montreux U-14 girls team.

The Maestro of the Orchestra

As the principal playmaker for the best team in the league for three years, officially, Nate has led the side to three Premiership titles, two Daynes Challenge Cup championships, one Utah Open Cup championship, two Spence Eccles Winter championships, and the 2007 Park City Tournament championship.

“I see respect coming from our players and from opponents toward Nate,” said OM midfielder Mauricio Borba.  “The man is a born leader, very focused and mentally strong. I wonder how come he did not go pro.”

“He is the keystone of the side. There are not enough words to say what Nate brings to the team.  He leads by example,” added defensive midfielder Kenan Powell.

Leading a team to such high levels in today's soccer is an amazing feat. In this division, winning two consecutives games is quite a difficult task with the high caliber competition.

Unlike the days not long ago when one or two teams reigned supreme and the others served as doormats toward easy and consecutive championships, lately, each team is well staffed because a large pool of talented players is available.

Highlighting the competitive nature of the Premiership is the fact that some teams feature former college players and a number of former professionals while some even employ the services of very skillful "for-hire" Latin American journeymen who naturally ply their trade here, there and everywhere for money.

Yet, in this very competitive environment, Nate and Olympique Montreux, a strictly amateur team, compete despite being constantly targeted as the team to beat in Utah soccer.

“I am honored to work with Nate. He is loyal to his team and to his teammates. He listens to advice and he is always working at bettering his game. Nate is a pure maestro and a gentleman,” said team manager Bel-Ami.

Olympique Montreux plays about 30 league and cup games each season. Because of the caliber of the players on the team, the side's reputation over eight years and more than a dozen major titles, each game it plays is like a cup game for the opponents, a final. Beating OM is a badge of honor in the Mountain West. It takes an athlete of uncommon mental toughness to wear an OM jersey. Average men have quivered under the pressure and the weight of the jersey and bailed out.

“Each one of our players who made it to the finish line this difficult season showed the strength of their character and great discipline. Nate led the way. He played hurt. Nate arranged and rearranged his schedule to answer present each time his team called on him.  He deserves his award of MOST VALUABLE PLAYER," added Bel-Ami.

Could not have said it better myself!

STEELY OM BEATS DIABLOS, CLAIMS THIRD STRAIGHT LEAGUE TITLE

THE USUAL SUSPECTS

By  Scott Cunningham
Sports Writer

WESTMINSTER STADIUM, Salt Lake. Nov. 3, 2007—Justin Braun rose high in the air to head in a fine cross from Louis Staley at the 44th minute and Olympique Montreux held on to defeat a fine Diablos team 1-0 to claim its third straight Utah Premiership championship.

Diablos displayed their stylish one touch game in the first half and caused a lot of problems for the Olympians’ defense although Mike ROGERS and his colleagues did not allow their crafty opponents to really threaten keeper Martin MARTINEZ.

The Olympians started with three forwards on top in a 3-3-4 attacking formation looking for early goals. However, the forwards were not on all cylinders.

In the 8th minute, striker Jake CAVANAUGH missed a golden opportunity.

In the 15th minute, Jimmy CUADROS’s shot sailed wide.

With a lot of room in the middle to roam, Diablos playmaker Alejandro “Guti” Gutierrez showed why he is one of Utah’s best playmakers of all times. He was a constant danger in directing the Red Devils’ offense.

But for his forwards running into OM’s well-aligned backfield, Diablos could have cashed in on Guti’s great performance.

“We had to silence him in the second half. He was having too much of an impact on the game,” said OM manager Bel-Ami.

A complete midfield embargo

With the score still 1-0 at the restart, the Olympians reorganized their midfield in a way to slow down the Red Devils’ progress. Bel-Ami introduced defensive midfield destroyer Kenan POWELL to operate in front of the already strong defense. To support playmaker Nate MURPHY, the manager assigned super tough holding midfielder Jeremy JONES to shadow Guti.

The strategy paid off as Diablos just could not find time to weave their attractive and menacing passing.

The Olympians were executing. There was no room for Diablos to execute.

With corner backs Richard BINDRUP and John MACQUARRIE having an amazing game, Diablos’s usually potent counterattack did not work. The few times that their forwards came close to the box through the middle, Zach BURTON and Mike made sure to swat them away.

Becoming more and more frustrated with the stifling marking, Diablos abandoned its pretty game and started playing rough. John Macquarrie had to be carried off the field in the 85th minute. Three minutes later, Jorge ESTRADA kicked Jeremy in the chest while the later was on the ground.

In the 67th minute, Jake had another good look at goal, but the keeper parried his shot.

In the 80th minute, Diablos had its best chance at scoring when Ephrain Aguilar took a strong shot at Martin. But the RSL-trained keeper made it look easy.

The game ended at 1-0 and the Olympians claimed their third straight league championship.

The “GRINTA” or the will to win 

“This was a difficult year for the organization. We basically lost half the team to direct competitors at various times throughout the year. We lost our starting right and left wingers, and critical midfielders. Players just got up and left a championship team for no reason in the middle of the season,” said Bel-Ami.

“In addition, we inherited an atrocious schedule and we had to deal with serious injuries. Jimmy had hernia surgery. Rick JOHNSON had anterior cruciate ligament surgery. David CHEVES had hand surgery. Sina Alipour’s nose was broken. Josh KIMBALL did not play for six weeks due to a foot injury. Ze MARCO is still injured. Todd MILLER played hurt all year long, a bad calf. Jeremy had a persistent ankle problem. Martin has a bad knee, but he still collected 5 straight shootouts and finishes the season as the league’s top keeper allowing in only nine goals all season.

“But we were blessed with a few new men who appreciated playing for Olympique Montreux because they love the team’s spirit and tradition. They integrated a new system at a difficult time in mid-season and they showed they had the GRINTA, the will to win. And they became champions. Call the roll:

Sina ALIPOUR, 2007 Utah Champion

Mauricio BORBA, 2007 Utah Champion

Richard BINDROP, 2007 Utah Champion

Zach BURTON, 2007 Utah Champion

Garrett LOSEE, 2007 Utah Champion

Ze MARCO, 2007 Utah Champion

Ricardo MARTINEZ, 2007 Utah Champion

Kenan POWELL, 2007 Utah Champion

“I thank them. I think all the players for showing strength of character.”

Indeed, the team went unbeaten the entire second half of the season, outscoring opponents 24 goals to one. The men played the game like true Olympians. They bended but never broke.

OLYMPIQUE MONTREUX WINS 3-0 AT PARK CITY NEWPARK

By  Scott Cunningham
Sports Writer

“Quitting is not an option.”

Bel-Ami de Montreux

PARK CITY, UTAH (OM News Service) October 6, 2007—Jake CAVANAUGH regained his fitness just in time to lead Olympique Montreux with two superb goals and Garrett LOSEE added the third as OM maintained its winning streak and first place in the Utah Premiership.

The Olympians have not lost or allowed one goal in five games, a whopping 450 minutes excluding injury time. Keeper Martin MARTINEZ has been in superb form this half of the season. His clean sheets last month earned him the title of Mr. September.

Cavanaugh or “Cavagoal” scored the first goal in the 25th minute after great work by midfielders Nate MURPHY and Todd MILLER. 

Nate again put in a Man of the Match performance. He controlled a one-touch pass from Todd just outside the box, sent a defender the wrong way and laid a clean pass to Cavagoal who had no other choice but to score.

The second goal came in the 39th minute after Jeremy JONES won the ball at midfield and started a quick counter attack, passing long to striker Jimmy CUADROS who unselfishly sent a curving cross into the box. As the keeper started to come out, Cavagoal beat him to the ball and headed in.

In the second half, Sina ALIPOUR came close to scoring a few times, but his efforts fell short.

Park City could not organize their midfield as a peripatetic Jeremy had a game that would make Claude Makelele proud. Playing at holding midfielder, an inspired Jeremy was breaking passes, tackling the ball and making the short or long accurate passes that can help move a team.

In the 75th minute, Garrett received another great pass from Nate and scored the third and final goal.

As Park City sent men forward looking for a consolation goal, Zach BURTON and his partners held firm to make sure OM maintain the best defense in the league.

To date, the Olympians have scored 80 goals in league play and allowed only 14. Westminster college is next with 75 goals, but it has conceded 36 goals. OM has not only the best defense at this point in the season, it has the most performing offense.

This is a huge accomplishment for a team that lost its entire strike force last season and had to rebuilt its midfield midseason because of injury and players transfering to other teams.

“It is good to see us continue to peak after a disastrous run in the cups. Our confidence is high. We still have a chance to win a silverware this season,” said contented manager Bel-Ami.

Elsewhere, Rush Elite defeated Diablos 1-0 to complicate the Red Devils’ position in the standing.

OM will take on Diablos on Saturday, October 13 at 4:00 PM at Cottonwood High School in Holladay. The result of that game may well settle the league’s championship.

Other news: Olympique Montreux U14 girls team was idle this weekend.

OM MEN BEATS RUSH---OM U-14 GIRLS ROLLS OVER SPARTA FC

By  Jessica LAKEWOOD
Sports Writer

“Quitting is not an option.”

Bel-Ami de Montreux

HOLLADAY, UTAH (OM News Service) September 22, 2007—Peruvian striker Jimmy Quadros scored two goals to lead OM over Rush Elite in the Utah Premiership on Saturday.

Jimmy scored his first goal in the 39th minute when he rose above the defense to head in a wonderfully taken Nate MURPHY corner kick and added the second in the 79th minute on a breakaway.

The Olympians played perhaps their best game of the season, with the attacking players pressing on high on turnovers.

“I was very impressed by our defensive display this afternoon. Despite the poor weather, we kept the ball and did not hurry things,” explained OM manager Bel-Ami.

“Our defending was amazing."

Barely back from hernia surgery, the powerfully built Jimmy showed he still had his game, hustling and defending like never before.

His strike partner, Sina ALIPOUR, did fine work with his speed to unsettle Rush Elite’s difficult to penetrate defense.

OM midfielders did a good job pacing the team and playing to the strength of the formation.

Keeper Martin MARTINEZ picked up his third shoot out in just as many games.

Earlier in the day, the U-14 Olympique Montreux girls squad gave a display that should put future adversaries on notice as the side gains in experience.

From the starting whistle, Coach Ben Staples’ team went at it in an organized and skillful fashion.

They dominated their more experienced opponents and by half time, Sparta was lucky to be only trailing by a single goal.

In the second half, the Lady Olympians completely dominated Sparta, scoring three additional goals.

“The U-14 girls team is the smartest thing Olympique Montreux F.C. has done in a long time. The players are enthusiastic and they genuinely are proud of the team’s tradition which they are enriching,” said Bel-Ami.          

MEET THE NEWEST OLYMPIANS. . .

By  Robyn Millerberg
U-14 Team Manager

 

SANDY, Utah. (September 21, 2007) OM News Services.--This season marks the inaugural year of the newest Olympique Montreux team.  The team is a U14 girl’s premier level team that previously competed as the Utah Force.  There are currently eighteen talented 13-year old girls on the roster. Several of these girls live in Draper and Sandy while many come from different areas of Salt Lake.

These girls are hard working and dedicated to soccer.  They love the game and improve each time they step on the field.  On August 10th and 11th they competed in the Sparta Tournament, the largest Utah youth soccer tournament other than State Cup, and their only loss came in the semi-final game (0-1) to the eventual tournament champions.  Against fierce competition, the Olympians allowed only one goal during the tournament.

Currently the team is ranked 4th in the state of Utah on GotSoccer.com’s State Rankings for Girls Under 14 in Utah.  Team points are acquired based on the results of tournament play.  

 State competition fall league play begins on August 25th and concludes on October 13th.  The girls will travel to several out of state tournaments followed by spring league play at the end of March and then State Cup in May.   Needless to say, these girls keep very busy.

History of the team:  In the fall of 2004, Jamie Shock began a Utah Force U11 girl’s team (four of the original members are on the OM team). They played a season in the Premier Division and a season at Division 1. The following season, fall of 2005, seven new players were added and based on new player credentials, the team was moved back to the Premier Division where they continue to compete.  (The Premier Division is the highest level of competition for youth soccer in the state. 

In the State Competition League, teams are placed based on their competitive strength, with the Premier Division being the highest level of competition followed by Division 1, Division 2, Division 3, etc.).  Jamie coached the team until the 2007 spring season when he and Ben Staples co-coached. 

At the end of May, Ben took over as head coach and added Nate Murphy as team trainer and assistant coach.  Kristin Sweet is the strength and conditioning coach and Jack Murhpy is also an assistant coach. 

All but one player returned and several new players add strength to the team.  In June, Nate introduced us to Bel-Ami.  The timing, with the coaching changes, worked out well for becoming Olympians.  The name change and the change of team colors (our former color was light blue) have been an adjustment for the girls, but they are very pleased by the changes and are excited to be part of the OM group.  They hope to be successful as other Olympique Montreux teams are.  Thank you to Bel-Ami for this opportunity and for your support.

Please contact team managers, Bob and Robyn Millerberg, with questions or for more information about the team.

Bob 673-9911 (cell)

Robyn 560-1985 (cell)

OLYMPIQUE MONTREUX SLASHES PAST PAN WORLD F.C.

By  Ben Sherwood
Sports Writer

“Quitting is not an option.”

Bel-Ami de Montreux

HOLLADAY, UTAH (LNS) September 15, 2007—Sina Alipour scored two goals as Olympique Montreux ripped past Pan World 6-0 in its battle to retain the Utah Premiership title.

Louis Staley scored the first goal on a free kick just outside the area in the ninth minute. Two minutes later, Nate MURPHY found the net from thirty-five yards out.

Barely five minutes after Nate’s fabulous strike, Todd MILLER headed in the third goal from Garrett LOSSE’s bending cross.

Making a claim for the shirt

With three goals in the bank, the Olympians took their feet off the pedal until the Sina ALIPOUR show began. 

The young striker was menacing from his introduction in the game in the 40th minute.  Right after the break, he rose in the air over everybody to deliver an athletic bicycle kick that missed by half a whisker.

 At the hour mark, Sina left two markers in his wake and put an unstoppable shot in the top shelf to make the score a commanding 4-0.

Ricardo MARTINEZ combined with Rick JOHNSON in the 67th minute and scored the fifth goal.

In the 70th minute, Josh KIMBALL lobbed a free kick behind a wall of men to marksman Sina who made sure to score the sixth and final goal. “I expected a more difficult game from Pan World who beat us 4-2 last June.

They had some injuries and were reduced to eight men at some point in the game for various reasons including dangerous play,” said OM manager Bel-Ami.

“But we played well. Nate ran the middle as he is supposed to, with consistency. Todd was lively and Sina, well, he has been wanting to wear the number 10 jersey.  I think he is making his point clear.”

Elsewhere, Diablos beat Bosnia USA 2-1 to keep the race tight at the top of the table. 

FIGHTING BACK: OM POWERS PAST WESTMINSTER F.C.

By  Jessica LAKEWOOD
Sports Writer

“Quitting is not an option.”

Bel-Ami de Montreux

 HOLLADAY, UTAH (LNS) September 8, 2007—Nearly one week after being kicked out of the Daynes Cup race thanks a loss suffered at the hands of Westminster F.C., the Olympians came roaring back and crushed the same Westminster team 3-0 this evening in Premiership action.

The Olympians’ defense was stellar in their first outing at home at Cottonwood High School.   

Zach BURTON and his central defense partner Mike ROGERS, made sure the speedy Westminster forwards were not going to pass thru the middle to reach keeper Martin MARTINEZ who registered a welcome shoot out.

John McQuarrie on the right side of the field and Richard Bindrup on the left shut down the flanks for 90 solid minutes.

Defensive midfielder Kenan POWELL broke up nearly every Westminster attempt to create something at midfield.

Westminster only had two shots on goal via former Olympian Sergio VASQUEZ who left OM earlier in the week along with Brian Dunseth.

Ricardo MARTINEZ was designated to pull the strings in the middle while Nate MURPHY started out of position at left wing.

The Olympians were dangerous throughout the first half with youngsters Garrett LOSEE and Sina ALIPOUR wrecking havoc trough the opponents’ defensive lines.

In the 18th minute as Sina was sailing goalward after dribbling past two Westminster defenders, one of them pulled him down literally in the area, tearing his number 19 jersey. The central referee did not hesitate to point to the spot kick mark. A confident Josh KIMBALL sent the keeper the wrong way to open the score.

The second coming of Rick Johnson

As Chris Dorich’s men could not defend against the fury of the Olympians, they resorted to violence with Ricardo and Sina their favorite targets for physical abuse.

In the 37th minute Iron Rick Johnson made his official come back after nine months out with a knee injury.

Six minutes after his introduction, the big number 9 took it straight the rack like Shack. Nothing the desperately diving Westminster keeper could do.

In the second half, Westminster reloaded their physical attacks. A frustrated Mauricio BORBA retaliated when a Westminster player assaulted him. Mauricio got a red card while the Westminster player escaped punishment.

In the 67th minute, Rick placed a powerful shot that the Westminster keeper spilled. Jimmy CUADROS pounced on the rebound to score the third goal.

The Olympians controlled the game in the closing minutes while trying to avoid serious injuries.

“We worked as team tonight than in a long time. There were no speculative long balls. We need to still work on turnovers. I am pleased with our physical presence,” said OM manager Bel-Ami.

“We need to hit guys hard.”

OM U-14 GIRLS ON WINNING STREAK—MEN ROLLED PAST OGDEN

By  Scott Cunningham
Sports Writer

“Quitting is not an option.”

Bel-Ami de Montreux

LONE PEAK PARK, UTAH (OM News Service) September 3, 2007—Megan Millerberg scored on a thirty-five yard freekick and Olympique Montreux's U-14 girl squad held on to defeat Sparta on Wednesday night.

The Olympians played a relentless game of soccer in front of a large crowd against a higher ranked Sparta team featuring a number of star players.

The Olympians’ defense was stifling, smothered all attempts by their more experienced opponents to stage counter attacks or organize their midfield.

With speedy Michele Murphy and Michele Staples running through and stretching the Sparta defense, and reliable stopper Emily Dedzjian patrolling in defense, the Olympians owned the night.

Sparta mounted several attacks in the late stages of the game, but keeper Nina Allen parried each attempt to equalize.

“It was a good performance against a very good side. Our overall performance was good. I am proud of the team and I feel we are learning,” said proud U-14 coach Ben StapleS.

“Right on! Right on! This was a team performance.” added assistant coach Nate Murphy.

Last Saturday, the girls traveled to Logan where they defeated CV Soccer Academy 3-2 after trailing 0-2 at halftime. Michele MURPHY scored the first two goals and Michelle STAPLES deflected into the goal Emily BEDZDJIAN’s well-taken freekick to seal the victory.

Olympique Montreux Men Marching on

Also last Saturday at Cottonwood, the men’s team ran riot over Ogden-Lobos, winning 4-0 with David CHEVEZ scoring 2 goals. Sina Alipour and Jake Cavanaugh added one goal each.

David’s two goals bring his tally to 20 for the season followed by Jimmy CuadroS’s 14 goals as they vie for the Golden Boot title.

Keeper Martin Martinez was perfect in the game and stopped a penalty kick.

During the month of September, Martin has been spectacular, having registered clean sheets in four consecutive games or a total of 360 minutes without allowing a goal.

“That’s why Martin is Mr. September,” said OM manager Bel-Ami.

“Let me salute the game of young Sina AlipouR. He is developing into a superb striker for us. Most of all, he kept his word and stuck with us while others had no concerns leaving the side in difficult times,” added Bel-Ami.

“Someone smart at a higher level should take a look at Sina. He is barely 20 and he has a big game.”

Note: U-14 team manager Robyn MILLERGBERG contributed to this story.  

A NIGHTMARISH RUN: OM OUT OF OPEN CUP AND DAYNES CUP

By  Jessica LAKEWOOD
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. (LNS). August 31, 2007—Last night, 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.

OM’s attack line was unproductive and committed numerous turnovers that resulted in Rush Elite making long ball passes mostly to their supersonic number 10 player at the right wing.

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!   

THREE MATCHES, THREE WINS. OLYMPIANS ON RIGHT TRACK TO TITLES

By  Jessica LAKEWOOD
Sports Writer

WESTPOINTE, Utah (LNS) August, 11, 2007--This evening, Olympique Montreux played smart enough to win 8-0 against Utah FC in Premiership league action.

The win came after an important 3-2 league victory against a well-oiled and young Lazio team on August 4 at Westminster College, and a 2-1 victory against a very good Ogden Lobos team on August  9 in Open Cup play.

The Olympians managed to capture a full six points in the two league games [Lazio and Utah FC] and tallied 11 goals against 3.

Westminster FC visits Diablos on August 16 and mighty Lazio on August 20, while OM travels to Bosnia USA next Saturday.

“We are trying to stay calm despite the pressure that comes with being the team to beat in Utah.  We are the reigning treble champions and we are well in the hunt to capture not only the league, but the Utah Open Cup and the Daynes Cup,” said OM manager Bel-Ami.

“It has been a good year so far. We won the Spence Eccles Winter Championship last February, finished third in the prestigious Budweiser Cup in Las Vegas from a field of 43 teams from all over the United States and Canada. We also captured the 2007 Park City Tournament last month. Not too bad for a team everyone wants to better on the pitch.”

With the signing of defenders Zach BURTON and Richie LINDRUP, forwards Sina ALIPOUR and Ricardo MARTINEZ, and the return to action of last year's golden boot Sergio Vasquez, skillful midfielder MAURICIO BORBA who was influential for OM at Lazio, and striker Jakke CAVANAUGH, the team should be able to compete on all three fronts. That is despite the surprise departure of long time member Jesse DAY and midfielder Matt WOOLLEY to Rush Elite.

“We signed a great group of young men. Look, Zach has already won a game for us when he headed home against Ogden in the closing minutes. Ritchie is solid in the back. He has great work ethics and Ricardo's work rate is amazing. Sina has blazing speed and great vision. We should be able to get everybody involved in our rotation, explained Bel-Ami.

______________________________
CANOCANIONERI RACE (All Competitions)

David Chevez, 18 goals
Jimmy Cuadros, 10 goals
Justin Braun, 9 goals