First ever Thunder and Lightning doubleheader Saturday

Published on May 24, 2006 under USL First Division (USL-1)
Minnesota Thunder News Release


ST. PAUL, Minn. (Wednesday, May 24, 2006) - This weekend marks a new stage in the Minnesota Thunder organization and for soccer in Minnesota. The new W-League women's team, the Minnesota Lightning, will be playing its inaugural match in the first game of a "Summer of the Storm" doubleheader. Congresswoman Betty McCollum will be kicking out the ceremonial first ball to start the Lightning season.

The Lightning will take on the London Gryphons at 5:05 p.m., with the Thunder scheduled to face the Portland Timbers at 7:35 p.m. Both matches will be held at the National Sports Center in Blaine. Admission to both games is granted with the purchase of a Thunder ticket. For ticket information, visit www.mnthunder.com or call 651.917.TEAM.

The first 500 fans in the gate for the Lightning game will receive a coupon for a free menu item at Noodles & Company.

Time Out Restaurant will be bringing back an adult fan favorite and will staff a beer garden serving Budweiser products and chicken wings during both games.

This doubleheader is sponsored by the Department of Health and Tobacco Free Youth Recreation in honor of World No Tobacco Day which is held each year on May 31. All fans at the games will receive this year's Tobacco Free poster featuring Thunder player Melvin Tarley and Lightning player Lauren Astry.

About the Lightning

The Lightning's inaugural roster is composed almost entirely of Minnesota natives who are current and former college stars across the country. Many of those players, including former Star Tribune Metro Players of the year Megan Almanzo, Kelsey Hans and Caroline Smith, began playing soccer in the Minnesota Youth Soccer Association system. Head coach Danny Storlien has coached a number of the Lightning players in the past on the Tsunami Sota club team. With a roster stacked with prolific scorers, the Lightning are expecting to be competitive right away.

About the Gryphons

Last season, the Gryphons finished in third place in the W-League Midwest Division, with a record of 8-4-2. They were led by Kim Dimitroff, who scored seven goals and tallied six assists for 20 points. Cristina Bonasia and Connie Tamburello finished with 14 and 13 points, respectively. Saturday will mark the Gryphons first game of the 2006 season. London announced this week the signing of Italian national player Guilia Nasuti to its roster.

About the Thunder

The Thunder (1-3-1, 4 points) are anxious to return home after a difficult four-game road stretch in which they were winless at 0-3-1 and gave up ten goals. Minnesota lost to Portland 2-1 on May 6 at PGE Park in its first away game of the season. In that match, Nathan Knox scored the Thunder's lone goal on a breakaway in stoppage time of the first half. Knox was held out of the second half of practice today in a precaution for a strained hamstring that will not cause him to miss any time. Head coach Amos Magee said that defender Alfredo Esteves, who has been out with a quad strain, will likely make his Thunder debut on Saturday.

About the Timbers

The Timbers (2-4-1, 7 points) currently sit tied for sixth place in the USL First Division standings. They picked up three points last Sunday in a 2-1 win over the Toronto Lynx. Midfielder Oral Bullen was named to this week's USL First Division Team of the Week in coming on as a substitute against the Lynx and recording a goal and an assist. Bullen and teammates Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar and Mubarike Chisoni lead the Timbers statistically with three scoring points apiece. The Timbers are winless on the road so far this season, with losses to Vancouver, Miami and Puerto Rico.

Thunder Head Coach Amos Magee

"We've had a spirited week of training, which I would expect after giving up seven goals in our last two games. I expect our defense to be the strength of this team and for us to achieve the heights we want to achieve we've got to get better in the back. Our guys are eager to play Portland, who beat us earlier in the year. It should be an exciting game."

Last Season's Series

The Thunder and Portland tied each other four times last season. Both games in St. Paul ended in scores of 1-1, while the teams played to draws of 2-2 and 3-3 at PGE Park in Portland. Before Portland's 2-1 victory over the Thunder on May 6, the two teams had played to six straight ties.

Up Next

Saturday marks the beginning of a long home stretch for the Thunder, which includes six USL First Division games, two exhibition games and a U.S. Open Cup match. The School Day exhibition game will take place on Wednesday, May 31 at 10:30 a.m. at James Griffin Stadium. The Thunder's next league match-up is on Saturday, July 3 against the Vancouver Whitecaps at 6:05 p.m. at James Griffin Stadium. For ticket information, visit www.mnthunder.com or call 651.917.TEAM.


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