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Schulte and Tenoff Return as Thunder Hosts Cleveland City Stars in Open Cup Action Tuesday

June 23, 2008 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Minnesota Thunder News Release


SAINT PAUL, Minn. (June 23, 2008)- The Minnesota Thunder will continue U.S. Open Cup play tomorrow, June 24, at 6 p.m at the National Sports Center, field U2. The Thunder will be hosting the Cleveland City Stars, a USL Second Division team that is now home to former Thunder players Godfrey Tenoff and Mark Schulte. The winner of this match will move on to face the Chicago Fire at Toyota Park on July 1.

For tickets, please visit www.ticketmaster.com or call 651.918.5151. All tickets for this match are $8. Fans are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets, as bleacher seating is limited for this match. This will be the final match on the exhibition field before the Thunder's revamped stadium at the National Sports Center is finished and reopens on July 11.

About the Thunder

The Thunder is off to a good start in the Open Cup, winning their first game in the tournament 4-1 against the St. Louis Lions on June 10. The Thunder is still searching for their first league win since May 24, but is slowly gaining points from draws. With many strong strikers, the Thunder cannot seem to find the perfect match that can finish together. The Thunder is currently in the middle of the First Division standings, with 16 points in their 12 league games. After this game, the Thunder leaves on a two game road trip to Puerto Rico to play the Islanders on Friday and Sunday.

About Cleveland

The City Stars won their first round of the Open Cup after playing the Michigan Bucks, and winning 2-1. Cleveland is doing well in the Second Division, with a record of 6-2-4, seating them at second place overall with 22 points. Floyd Franks and Neil Hlavaty are the two City Star players that were responsible for the 2-1 victory over the Bucks. In the 23rd minute, Franks scored and Hlavaty got the assist and in the 34th minute Hlavaty scored and Franks got the assist. The two players seem to work well off each other and have found a combination that works. The City Stars have scored 21 goals and let in 10. Of those 21 goals, Sallieu Bundu is leading the team with five goals and Adam Ruud follows him with four. The City Stars will be a strong offensive team for the Thunder, as they hope to find U.S. Open Cup glory.

"This will be a great challenge for us; we play one of the top teams in the Second Division. Minnesota fans will be excited to see familiar faces in ex-Thunder players, Godfrey Tenoff and Mark Schulte. They have a dangerous, well organized team and we will have to play very well to beat them," said Thunder head coach Amos Magee.

"For a second year team, they're very experienced and talented. Tomorrow is probably their biggest game in their organization to date so far; everyone wants to succeed in the Open Cup. We just have to go out and get the job done. A win wil alsol give us a great boost going into this weekend's road trip," said goalkeeper Nic Platter.

"Cleveland is an experienced team, they have a lot of experienced pros, like Tenoff and Shulte who used to play here in Minnesota and they have a couple guys who used to play for the [Chicago] Fire. They'll be a good team, a good test for us. To our team, Open Cup is important. It's something that our club takes pride in doing well like we have in the past so we're looking forward to the match," said defender Kevin Friedland.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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