IN MEMORIAM - ALEX POGMAN

IN MEMORIAM

ALEX POGMAN
1972-2009

POSITION: MIDFIELDER FOR OLYMPIQUE MONTREUX 2001, 2002, 2003
JERSEY NUMBER 18
PREMIERSHIP CHAMPION: 2001 (Scored winning goal in 3-2 win in championship game, Oct. 20, 2001)
PREMIERSHIP CHAMPION: 2002 (Scored in 3-1 championship game against Alemania, Oct. 21, 2002

STEVE McMURDIE IS OLYMPIAN OF THE YEAR

STEVE IS 2008 MVP

JANTZEN ROMNEY-LUIS GARCIA-VICTHOR SOARES HONORED

By R. M. Danish

Sports Writer

 

SALT LAKE CITY, UT.  Dec. 10, 2008.--- Midfielder Steve McMurdie is Olympique Montreux Football Club’s Most Valuable Player for 2008. It is a fitting tribute to a player who was solid all year and led, not only the premiership team, but contributed valuable minutes to the first division team during an uneasy year at OM.

The team’s banquet and awards ceremony was held this year at Rodizzio Grill, a chic Brazilian Barbeque restaurant at upscale Trolley Square.

2001 MVP Jorge Conde honored

The event provided an opportunity to introduce to the players the man who collaborated with Bel-Ami to create the club back in 1999.

Indeed, former defensive stalwart Jorge Conde and his wife Elizabeth were present to be honored for Conde’s services to the club. He was awarded the MVP trophy for 2001.

Also, Ivan Marcos Olmedo Zarate received his 2002 MVP award, along with Josh Kimball who was the team’s MVP in spring 2005.

In those days the team did not award individual honors.

“We take this occasion to recognize Jorge Conde who worked hard to get this team started,” said Bel-Ami de Montreux, OM’s manager.

“In the beginning, we were just a new team with a strange French name. We needed players and the talented ones did not trust us. Conde worked hard to staff the team, brought on players like Marcos Melendrez and others, and we found success at the end. He was our first captain and a true OM legend.

“Ivan, in 2002, was the best player in all of Utah. Although he is still a great player, he was exceptional that year. He won the Liga LatinoAmericana best player award. He created my huge goal tally that year with his timely and creative assists.

“In spring 2005, Josh Kimball was leading scorer and all around best player for OM. We are thankful for his contribution to the side and wish him well in his new career at Rush ootball Club next season.”

At this year’s well attended banquet, more than 70 players and family applauded Steve McMurdie who received his Most Valuable Player award. Jantzen Romney took the Offensive Player of the Year award. Luis Garcia was named Defensive Player of the Year and Victhor Soares won the award for being this year’s Iron Man.

Steve’s work rate this season was outstanding. He was a consistent performer who earned the respect of the manager and his teammates. Steve who is also on Real Salt Lake’s short list when they need help for reserve games came to OM only last year from Park City New Park and he is already the MVP. He is also the head soccer coach for Lehi High School in Utah County.

Several times each week, Steve travels from Provo to Salt Lake for practices and games. He scores amazing goals and is a true leader. He is the prototype of players OM loves to have.

“Steve is an accomplished and mature soccer player and yet he is coachable and humble. What else can you ask for in a player,” said Bel-Ami. “We are lucky he wears an OM jersey.”

Steve is married to his wife Alexis who is a great youth girl coach in her own right. They are parents to three young boys.

Jantzen was fabulous this year. The left winger, a product of youth club Inter FC and Brighton High School, quickly settled into the historic club and made himself a ‘can’t do without’ selection in any formation the manager put on the field. He starred for the Premiership team and the first division and practiced hard. He has incredibly good work ethics.

Luis Garcia was always present in central defense and at midfield, doing a superb job at times when the Premiership team could not count on many of its regular starters. He saved us often, keeping us in game we could have lost.

Iron Man Victhor Soares was the indispensable player. The 22 year old can do it all. You need a defensive player, line him up. You need a midfielder or a forward, call on Victhor. But it is his ability to play in front of the defense that is amazing for a former forward.

In the Park City Tournament, Victhor basically cancelled out speedsters Chad Gilbert and Sergio Vasquez.

The organization also gave awards to Ben Staples, the coach of the Olympique Montreux U-15 girl’s team, and to manager, Robyn Millerberg. The U-15 girls team finished first last season in the U-14 division and is now ranked second in the state in its age bracket.

Olympique Montreux also honored Justin Braun, our former teammate who now plays professionally for MLS team Chivas USA where he is showing to the world on a big stage that there is good soccer in Utah and great players at Olympique Montreux.

Justin scored the goal against Diablos last year to win the side the premiership title.

Next year, OM hopes to have one or two of its players in MLS camps.

D1 team wins championship

While things were going smooth for the girls’ team, it was a rather turbulent year for the men. The Premiership team was a rollercoaster ride. Conversely, the D1 team maintained its character to finish at the top of a 16 teams-strong division, losing only three times.

Along the way, the young D1 Olympians scored a division best 71 goals, conceding 23.

“I never had a consistent starting team all year long in the premiership. Important players, including the team’s captain, did not play crucial games,” explained Bel-Ami.

“As a result, we dropped points to bad teams and tied teams we should have beaten.”

Still, the team won the prestigious Park City Tournament, but missed out on three league trophies that were shared between Diablos and Westminster. It failed to retain the championship title that had been its own for the past four seasons.

It is the first time since fall 2004 that OM’s top team did not win any league silverware. The side finished in second place in the standings, seven points behind champion Westminster FC.

“We are now in rebuilding mode. I think only one player remains from the team that last won the division. The others have left,” said Bel-Ami.

OM is the most prestigious amateur club in Utah. Teams are motivated to get a result when they face the side.

“We are indeed flattered by the attention. Ain't nothing wrong being the Barcelona or Real Madrid around here. We know we have to always be prepared to do battle. Even a friendly game against OM is a final for the opponent. That’s the difference between us and the rest,” said the manager.

U-14 girls team is a winner

If the men’s Premiership team struggled this year, the Olympique Montreux U-14 girls team maintained a high standard and did the organization very proud. The girls have grown into a potent force in Utah youth soccer, beating higher ranked teams and earning high honors.

Each time the girls take to the field, their opponents not only have to contend with their superb play, but they have to fight against the reputation of the club for its winning tradition.

Credits go to head coach Ben Staples for his leadership and knowledge of the game and to manager Robyn Millerberg for her devotion to the team. The girls also benefit from the services of Nate Murphy, one the best trainers in Utah. 

OLYMPIQUE MONTREUX TEAMS SCORE 13 GOALS TODAY, CONCEDING NONE

WAY TOO MUCH KAKA

By R. M. Danish

Sports Writer

Cottonwood, Aug. 22.--  Ricardo "Kaka" Sobreira was a man, well, boy, on a scoring mission this evening. The teenager started in the first division game and opened the scoring in the 4th minute. He then started in the Premiership game and opened the scoring in the 7th minute. He again scored in the 86th minute.

Indeed it was a Kaka show all afternoon at Cottonwood Field.

The first division game pitted Olympique Montreux against FC Crisnet.
 

In addition to Kaka·, defensive ace Victhor Soares, David Chevez (hot trick), Tim Ballantyne, and Gabriel Causse found the back of the net.

The side played great one-two touch soccer, making good use of the big pitch to the detriment of FC Crisnet who played the first five minutes with only nine players.

The late arrival of Crisnet’s remaining players did not help much as the Olympians executed their game plan to near perfection, rolling to a 6-0 lead at the break.

Showing respect for their opponents, the Olympians were instructed to maintain possession in the second half, make quick one touch passes, but to not run up the score.

David Chevez, last season leading scorer, was making his first full appearance this season after a winter injury. Davi-gol scored a hot trick, closing the scoring on a penalty.

…and in the Premiership

In the Premiership game, Bosnia USA started by playing well, featuring a number of good players, namely former OM champions Alija Hijdarevic (2001, 2002) and Ninja Djurasovic (2002), along with Mexican playmaker Antonio Vasquez (OM 2003).

Unfortunately, Bosnia USA still lined up the likes of Admir Softic and Adis Alagic. The latter used be a great player but for several years now, he prefers to dish out cheap behind-the-back shots while screaming to the refs: "It is not my fault if [my victims] are too short."

This evening, Adis made young Sina and Kaka his special targets.

"Adis was an OM star in 2001 and 2002. How he went from very good soccer player to schoolyard bully is simply amazing. I used to compare him to Patrick Viera for his pace, grace and style," said OM manager Bel-Ami de Montreux who played with and managed the player for two championship seasons in the Hispanic league.

"It must be the Zlatan influence."

It was only a short two weeks since Bosnia USA defender Zlatan Ridzalovic and two his mates physically assaulted and slapped a young referee who had the audacity to red card Zlatan.

Along with Alain Delon (sic), a red card collecting specialist, and Admir "Fock Yoo" Softic, it was only a matter of time before that team became unglued.

Lately, Admir’s only game is to spit "Fock Yoo" or "Fock yo’ mutha" each time he is near Bel-Ami.

Nutmegged King

Playing on top to fill in for the absent Eduardo Lalo Romero, midfielder Steve McMurdie scored twice, at the 18th and 32nd minute.

In the 80th minute, left-winger Jantzen Romney froze the keeper and then nutmegged him to score the fourth goal.

Kaka scored again in the 86th minute after a solo run through the tired Bosnian defense.

Garrett Losee closed the scoring one minute later.

Last week, OM's first division defeated Raging Yetis 3-1 and the Premiership beat Odyssey Web 5-1 on goals by Jantzen Romney, Garrett Losee (twice) and defender Zach Burton.

The Olympians are trying to capture titles in both divisions.

OM WINS THRILLER AGAINST INSPIRED DIABLOS

 A CLASS ZACH

Franscisco Aguilar
SPORTS WRITER

WEST JORDAN, UT.-- JUNE 28, 2008.--Diablos FC and Olympique Montreux butted head at West Jordan Complex this evening and the Gran Classico lived up to expectations.

Neither team wilted under the 98-degree plus heat wave.

Gerry Bellazantine’s men came out firing on all cylinders, forcing the Olympians to defend for long stretches of time.

All star striker Jorge Estrada, one of Utah’s all times best, ran tirelessly at the defense. Chris Kirkpatrick and the Olympians’ defense had to dig very deep to keep the former Utah Blitzz man under some control.

With playmakers Maran and Guti Gutierrez operating in midfield and El Gran Cholo in central defense, the Red Devils showed their intent to run over Bel-Ami’s protégés.

At the 12th minute, Maran connected with a fine midfield pass to put Diablos on the score sheet after exploiting a defensive error on the right side.

Seven minutes later, Diablos’ forward Ephrain Aguilar, a former Real Salt Lake target, came face to face with OM keeper Shaun Fuhriman who was called upon to play in goal after regular OM keeper Martin Martinez opted out of the game.

Shaun saved Aguilar’s powerful shot in extremis.

The Olympians quickly reorganized behind Zach Burton’s leadership and started to push Diablos back.

At the 23rd minute the referee awarded the Olympians a penalty when Zach was taken down in the area. The keeper stopped Sina Alipour’s penalty kick to the delight of the Red Devils’ fans.

At the 30th minute, Eduardo “Super Lalo” Romero forced the keeper into a good save.

Luis Garcia dribbled past two Diablos defenders at the 37th minute, but his powerful strike was diverted into a corner.

Zach rose up high to tie the game on a header on the ensuing corner kick. 

The score remained tied at half time.

Whatever manager Bel-Ami told his men during the break must have had an impact.

In the 50th minute, Super Lalo put a great cross on the head of a well-placed Luis Orozco.  The stylish forward let rip an unstoppable header that found the back of the net.

Man on Fire

The Red Devils responded quickly to tie the game. 

They scored their third goal in the 55th minute to take the lead.

With ten minutes left, Zach caught on fire. The big Olympian started to dominate the midfield.

At the 80th minute, Zach placed a perfect pass to the feet of Super Lalo who just could not miss. The young forward unleashed an unstoppable strike to again tie the game for OM.

With about three minutes left in regulation and the dreaded penalty shoot out looming, the Olympians were awarded a free kick just outside the area.

Sina stepped up and his ground shot went into the Red Devils’ net despite the keeper’s outstretched dive.

The game ended with the score 4-3 in favor of the Olympians.

“Any match between Diablos and OM is a Classico. It was a very entertaining game. Two good teams. We had to pump up the volume of play to get a win. It was not easy,” said Bel-Ami after the game. “They were ready for us.”

To a question about the strange absence of Keeper Martin Martinez, the manager responded that Shaun was great in goal. “But we needed Louis Staley with Estrada being too much to handle,” he added.

“Have you seen him?”

Earlier in the day, Diablos’ first division team defeated OM’s first division 3-1.

“It was a total lack of desire from the forwards and an unfit midfield that cost us the points in the first division game. Playing with two refs for most of the game did not help either,” said Bel-Ami.

OTHER TEAM NEWS:

Since the victory over Pan World, both Olympique Montreux teams have been cruising in league play. The first division has won all but two of its league games. It is undefeated in Utah Open Cup and Utah Challenge Cup games.  The team is the mid-season champion, ahead of Diablos on goal difference. 

The Premiership team remains undefeated in league play and is in first place as well.

However, the side exited the Utah Open Cup in the semifinals round, losing to Lazio in a penalty shoot out after a 1-1 tie. A few days later, the Premiership lost 3-1 to Diablos in a Daynes Cup quarterfinal game that Diablos totally dominated.

STORM MOUNTAIN JOY FOR BEL-AMI AND OLYMPIQUE MONTREUX

By  Scott Cunningham
Sports Writer

STORM MOUNTAIN PARK (LNS) June 2,——Olympique Montreux displayed its title credentials by claiming a resounding 6-1 victory over Odyssey Web in the Utah Premiership this evening. 

Leading scorer David CHEVEZ scored a double. Jake CAVANAUGH, Todd MILLER, Jimmy CUADROS and Ricardo MARTINEZ each added one goal to secure first place for the Olympians.

“This was an important game and we came out to win. We know what we have to do,” said OM manager Bel-Ami.

Last Saturday’s match between Diablos and Olympique Montreux was abandoned in the 50th minute partly because no league accredited referee showed up to call the hugely anticipated fixture between the top two teams. The citizen volunteer who was given the whistle proved mammothly incompetent and became incapacitated under the pressure.

That game is now rescheduled for November 3 at Westminster College Stadium.

Today’s result shows that the Olympians understand their mission. Since the mid season humiliation when the team lost important games to Pan World and Lazio, and prematurely exited two important cup races, the players have come to appreciate that everybody’s soccer dream in Utah is to beat them.

Since then, the organization made necessary roster adjustment and the side has been playing like a true Olympique Montreux team, outscoring opponents 23 goals to 1 in just the last six outings.

“Our confidence is up. We feel we can,” said star playmaker Nate MURPHY who added another nugget in a long string of stellar performances.

Yet though, it was not all fun at first. Odyssey Web started the game strongly and played well for the first fifteen minutes or so. Its forwards made several entries into the zone, forcing Kenan POWELL and the defense to backpedal a few times.

The score remained nil until the 21st mi

nute when Nate combined with Jimmy who found Todd criminally unmarked to open the scoring with a booming shot.

In the 43rd minute, Garrett danced around the left fullback, combined well with Jake who fired past the keeper for the second goal.

At the restart, OM’s dominance became perfect as Ricardo joined in the goal scoring with a low right foot shot in the 50th minute on a through pass from Nate.

Ten minutes later, on a fine pass from left winger Louis STALEY, David “El Tanque” scored the fourth goal with one of his classic finishes that made so many Peruvians happy when he was an Alianza Lima player in Peru.

El Tanque was at it again just three minutes later when ace forward Sina ALIPOUR cushioned a fine pass into his path. The marksman could not but score his 22nd goal of the season.

Not to be left out, at the 78th minute, number 7 Jimmy took off on a solo run that ended with him rounding the keeper to score the sixth and final goal.

Odyssey Web did score a consolation goal just before the referee called full time to end keeper Martin MARTINEZ’s impressive run of six games with clean sheets. It was good joy for Bel-Ami and his men after last week’s weird experience against Diablos.

______________________________

CANOCANIONERY race

David Chevez, 22 goals

Jimmy Cuadros, 14    

OM THUMPS PAN WORLD 5-2 –D1 TEAM DEFEATS SALT LAKE SC 3-2

Franscisco Aguilar
SPORTS WRITER

SANDY, UT. May 17, 2008.--- Pan World FC caught Olympique Montreux off guard in Premiership soccer action this evening at Storm Mountain Park, and jumped to an early lead when it scored at the 8th minute on a defensive mistake.

Pan World doubled its lead at the 20th minute on a keeper error as Martin Martinez came out calling for the ball but failed to make any contact with it.

OM captain Nate Murphy scored the side’s first goal at the 25th minute to spearhead a comeback that saw the Olympians executing at their deadly best. 

Murphy’s goal came when Luis Orozco dribbled between three defenders before passing to Murphy who put the ball into the right corner of the net from 12 yards.

Ace Josh Kimball tied the game at the 32nd minute on a header.

The technical Orozco who delivered a man-of-the-match performance put the Olympians ahead 3-2 in the 44th minute after eluding a couple of defenders.

Right after the break, Murphy went back to work. He penetrated into the area and was taken down from behind by a Pan World defender. The referee awarded a penalty that a cool Kimball converted to give the Olympians a comfortable 4-2 lead.

Playing Russian roulette

The Olympians made it 5-2 on a Luis Garcia shot from outside the area after the fullback had driven nearly the length of the field with the ball glued to his feet.

“The team played well, but we need to stop taking soft goals on defensive blunders,” said OM technical director Bel-Ami.

“Martin needs to stay focus and get serious as he is the starting keeper for the side. This is not funny. We must stop playing Russian roulette or we will be punished one day,” added the concerned tactician who was nonetheless pleased with the clinical comeback.

Last Saturday the Olympians defeated University of Utah SC 3-1.

OM D1 CAME FROM BEHIND TO DEFEAT A GOOD SALT LAKE SC

West Jordan, UT.  May 17, 2008. --- Olympique Montreux D1 team fell behind quickly to an overpowering Salt Lake SC club at the West Jordan Complex on a horrible soccer field with overgrown grass.

An unusually mobile Jimmy Quadros equalized in the 24th minute on a solo effort.

Salt Lake SC reclaimed the lead after the half and maintained it until the 65th minute when winger Tim Ballantyne tied the game.

Ballantyne’s goal came after his powerful shot hit the crossbar, bounced off the keeper’s back and into the net.

Mateus Costa to the rescue

The score remained tied although the Olympians dominated and took many shots that failed to find the mark.

With the end of the game near, Bel-Ami sent in Mateus Costa who aimed a lofting shot into the left corner of the net that the keeper was unable to stop.  3-2.

“We have some serious work to do on defense. Like the Premier team, we basically allowed in two goals on defensive breakdowns, said manager Bel-Ami.

“We have to keep working to get it right."

The D1 team defeated FC Gunners 3-2 last week at Riverside Park. 

BOSNIA USA TOOK 2 POINTS FROM OM PREMIER TEAM IN TIE WIN

HAT TRICK HOTSHOT CICERO POWERS OM D1 PAST  CRISNET

Franscisco Aguilar
SPORTS WRITER

Salt Lake City, UT. (May 4, 2008)---Number 10 Angel Cicero powered Olympique Montreux’s First Division team [OM D1] to a 6-0 win over FC Crisnet in Utah Soccer Association action last Saturday at Westpointe Park.

The talented Spaniard hit the back of the net three times as he predicted before the game.

The win came after previous victories over Von Trapp Athletico (3-2) and Bosnia USA (4-0). The side had lost its opener (2-1) against Rush Elite 2 last month.

“Nine points from 4 games is a good start of the season for our new team. We came close to winning the first game despite facing most of Rush Elite’s Premiership players,” said D1 captain Victhor Suarez who tallied two of the goals.

17 year-old Chris Biscupovich scored the other goal on a superb volley from a Cicero cross.

The D1 team played a rapid passing game and maintained an overwhelming percentage of the possession.

The total pressure on FC Crisnet produced 17 corner kicks in favor of the Olympians.

The defense was solid as new man Wellington Teixeira quickly settled into the team to help thwart nearly all efforts the Crisnetians attempted.

Keeper Spencer Zubal who came in at the hour mark to replace Shaun Fuhriman, had to make three brilliant saves near the end of the game to guarantee the Olympians a clean sheet.

Premiership Team Drops Points, FAILS TO TAKE FIRST PLACE

In the second game of the day, Bosnia USA came from behind to earn a tie win [3-3] against a disorganized Olympique Montreux Premiership team that missed a great opportunity to move to the top of the standings.

It was the first time in five seasons in all competitions and tournaments that the Bosnian side had ever scored a goal against an Olympique Montreux team.

The Bosnian team played with an unfamiliar discipline and outclassed the Olympians with their organization and desire to defeat the defending champion.

Unlike never before, Bosnia USA did not commit any unnecessary fouls. There were no cheap shots and no arguments with the referees. The players were professionals and courteous.

Their forwards were able to penetrate and create numerous uncomfortable moments for Bel-Ami’s men.

Their midfield operator, number 10 Branislav Nicolic, earned man of the match honors.  Sasha Vidic, an OM 2002 alumnus, was outstanding at left back until he had to leave the game with an injury.

Even Adis Alagic delivered a clean performance.

Go figure!

“I have said before that if Bosnia USA ever starts playing soccer instead of losing their cool and getting unnecessary red cards, they will be a dangerous side,” said OM manager Bel-Ami.

“They actually proved it last night. Hopefully, they did not put it together just to play one good game against us. I hope they can play like this against all the other big teams. If they do, the rest of the Premiership better beware.”

“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.