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Sights and Sounds: A New Era

Photos and post game interviews with Jay Vidovich, Kharlton Belmar, and Blair Gavin after T2's 3-1 victory.

By Jeremiah Mitchell Braeback
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - T2 begins warm ups prior to their inaugural match against Real Monarchs.
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - Goalkeeper Justin Luthy puches away a ball during pregame warm ups.
  • T2 3 SLC 1
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - Kharlton Belmar takes a shot during warm ups.
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - Rundell Winchester takes a shot during warm ups.
  • T2 3 SLC 1 Schillo Tshuma takes a shot during warm ups.
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - The fans await the arrival of the players and referees.
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - T2 head coach Jay Vidovich leads T2 onto the pitch.
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - T2 arrives on the pitch.
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - The UP ROTC Honor Guard presented the colors.
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - The referees and Starting XI's arrive.
  • T2 3 SLC 1 A rousing rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner"
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - T2 fans waiving their scarves after the singing of "The Star Spangled Banner"
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - T2 Starting XI
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - Taylor Peay gets one last splash of water before opening kick.
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - One last chat before taking the pitch.
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - T2 is ready to go!
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - Blair Gavin flies to win a header.
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - T2 and Real await a free kick.
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - Nick Besler chases down a ball at midfield.
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - Justin Luthy surveys the field.
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - Andy Thoma and Garrett Losee sprint for a ball.
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - Kharlton Belmar heads a ball on goal.
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - Taylor Peay leaps for a header.
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - Nick Besler leaps controls the ball at midfield.
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - Andy Thoma defends Real forward Eti Tavarez
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - Kharlton Belmar gives a fan a high five after netting his first goal.
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - The scene in the stands after the opening goal.
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - The first smoke bomb from the Timbers Army.
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - The smoke lingered on the pitch for several minutes.
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - T2 defender Rennico Clarke controls the ball and surveys the field.
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - Blair Gavin takes a free kick during the first half.
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - Real goalkeeper Victor Rodriguez snares Gavin's free kick,which sailed just above the head of Anthony Manning.
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - Real Monarchs midfielder Garrett Losee is shown a yellow card. He would later be ejected in the 86th minute.
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - Thoma turns to reach a ball in the box.
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - Belmar goes for a header.
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - Clarke chases down a ball.
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - Nick Besler clears a ball just in front of the endline.
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - Winchester slides to keep the ball in play.
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - Gavin with a free kick in the second half.
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - Winchester looks to cross the ball into the box.
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - Belmar chases down the ball...
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - ...beats the keeper...
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - ...who can only look...
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - ...as the ball crosses the line.
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - Belmar celebrates his 2nd goal of the night.
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - Belmar celebrates his goal with his teammates.
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - The Timbers Army celebrates as a forlorn Rodiriguez looks on.
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - Winchester gets his head on the ball...
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - ...giving his all as the defense watches...
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - ...Rodriguez dive for the ball...
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - ...only to watch the ball find the goal.
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - Winchester does a little dance after his goal.
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - T2 celebrates Winchester's goal.
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - Real defenders leap to attempt to block a free kick.
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - Belmar gets his head on another ball.
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - Fatawu and Real defender Jordan Murrell fight for a loose ball.
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - Gavin is taken down by a nasty challenge, which earned Real's Lucas Baldin a yellow card.
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - Speaking of yellow cards, Losee earned himself a second...
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - ...and then sees red.
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - Losee's teammates tried to argue their case, to no avail.
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - Taylor Peay looks to send the ball in.
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - The fight for a header in the box.
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - Real found themselves chasing the ball down a man.
  • T2 3 SLC 1 - Blain Gavin considers his next move with the ball as the clock runs out.

T2 opened their inaugural USL season in impressive fashion, defeating Real Monarchs SLC 3-1 in front of 3,667 at Merlo Field.

Kharlton Belmar proved that his 2014 goalscoring prowess with the Timbers U23s was no fluke, as he notched a brace with a header in the 31st minute, the first goal on T2 history, and added his second, blowing past Real goalkeeper Victor Rodriguez for an easy goal in the 54th minute. For his performance, Belmar was named to the USL Week 2 Team of the Week.

Rundell Winchester added a goal of his own just four minutes later, finding the end of an Andy Thoma cross and heading the ball home in the 58th minute.

Real would break through in the 59th minute, as Coco Navarro bested T2 goalkeeper Justin Luthy 1v1.

T2 will return to the pitch on Thursday, as they take on reigning USL champions Sacramento Republic at Merlo Field at 7:00pm.

Head Coach Jay Vidovich

Forward Kharlton Belmar

Midfielder Blair Gavin


Editor's Note: Apologizes for the lateness of this gallery. It takes time to edit photos and videos and today was the first opportunity to finish editing everything.

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