Thunder Downed by Rochester Rhinos 2-1

Published on June 27, 2009 under USL First Division (USL-1)
Minnesota Thunder News Release


BLAINE, Minn. (Saturday, June 27, 2009) - The Thunder is still having trouble obtaining victories as they lost to the Rochester Rhinos 1-2. Minnesota came out with guns blazing and eager to climb the ranks of the USL First Division but that was not to be. Although, Ricardo Sanchez had last week's Goal of the Week, the Thunder offense just could not get anything going until it was already too late. The next opponent for the Thunder is Major League Soccer's Kansas City Wizards in Lamar Hunt US Open Cup play. The game will be played at the National Sports Center on Tuesday, June 30 at 7:35 p.m.

The Thunder started the game with the mentality of win at all costs. Within 20 seconds Ricardo Sanchez took a shot that went just high but it set the tone for the start of the game.

Thunder had another close chance in the 14th minute. Sanchez had the ball on the left side of the field and ten yards outside the box. He took his time and set up what initially looked like a shot but the ball curled right to Brian Cvilikas in a well placed but deceiving pass. Cvilikas got his foot on it but the shot flew high and the score remained tied at zero.

The Rhinos scored the first goal of the game in the 32nd minute. Andrew Gregor accepted a pass from Chris Nurse in the center of the box with most of the Minnesota defenders closing in. Gregor wasted no time and spun to send a rolling shot to the right side of the goal. Nic Platter made a nice effort but his dive fell short as he was forced to watch the ball trickle in.

Minnesota was not without their chances and they had another one in the 38th minute. Sanchez curved a pass to Lawrence Olum who successfully got his head on it. The ball missed just high and to the left keeping the Rhinos leading by one.

The Thunder ended the first half down by one but hungry for a goal. They came back for the second half with just as much intensity. Minnesota was awarded a free kick, in the 48th minute, after a foul 15 yards outside the box and Sanchez stepped behind the ball. He ripped a shot that was looking good until Rhinos keeper Timothy Melia dove and just batted it wide right.

Minnesota had yet another close try but failed to finish in the 63rd minute. Sanchez flew down the field and just as he was looking like he was going to take a shot he flicked it over to Rod Dyachenko. Dyachenko accepted the ablls but not cleanly and by the time he had enough control to shoot Melia was there. This forced the shot to sail high and the opportunity left much to be desired.

The Thunder had their best opportunity to score in the 73rd minute. Minnesota was awarded a free kick 9 yards outside the penalty box. Sanchez took his place behind the ball and the look in his eyes screamed goal. He crushed a shot that had some bend to it but like a hanging curveball it did not get down in time and the ball missed high.

The Rhinos sealed the deal in the 82nd minute with a late game goal. Kwame Sarkodie had the ball down the left side of the field and when he got to the box he tapped it to the center to Mike Ambersley. Nic Platter was in a tough spot, he successfully cut the lane of Sarkodie but that left the far side of the net open. Once the ball got to Ambersley, Platter adjusted, but not in time, and the second goal of the game was scored.

The Thunder scored a late goal in the 89th minute. Unfortunately, it was not enough to come back from the two goal deficient. Brian Cvilikas stopped a ball from nearly going out of play near the Rhinos goal and he sent a quick shot on target. The ball threaded the needle as it split the gap between the post and Melia and getting the Thunder back within one.

Everyone was on honed their efforts late in the second half. Nic Platter came out of the goal with the ball trying to get a play going but his pass was intercepted. Chris Clements saw the play collapse and he came to the rescue as the Rhinos took a shot. Clements played goalkeeper for a bit as he was the last line of defense and his foot caught the ball sending it wide.

Minnesota made a valiant effort late in the game but the breaks went Rochester's way. Several of the Thunder's shots came in the last four minutes of play but Melia kept the game in Rochester's favor. The matched ended in a 1-2 loss to the Rochester Rhinos.

"It was a tough game," said Thunder midfielder/forward Quavas Kirk. "We let up a soft goal early that was hard to recover from. The guys worked hard but we struggled to get back in the game."

The Thunder returns to US Open Cup play on Tuesday, June 30. They will be hosting the Kansas City Wizards of Major League Soccer. Tickets for the game start at $10 and are available now. For individual tickets, please visit www.ticketmaster.com or for group tickets call the Thunder office at 651.294.4664.

The Minnesota Lightning successfully shook off their two loss road trip with a 3-0 win over the Cleveland Internationals. This keeps the Lightning undefeated while playing at the National Sports Center but they are still in third place in the Midwest Division.

The Lightning fired out of the gates. Caroline Smith scored the first goal of the game in the sixth minute. Emily Orbell dished her the ball and Smith maneuvered around the Internationals defenders with just Cleveland goalkeeper, Nicole Wood, standing between her and the net. Smith wound up for a shot as Wood dove for the ball but Smith's shot passed right over the keeper for the first goal of the game.

Kelsey Hans also found the back of the net in the 13th minute. Kelsey Hood passed the ball to Hans where she spun around to get the defender to her back and slipped a shot past Wood. The Kelseys put the Lightning up by two.

Minnesota continued to enforce their will on Cleveland in the 27th minute. Chealsea Cline was in the middle of the box when she took control of the ball. Once she had position, she whipped around and fired a shot on target. Before Wood could do anything about the ball, it was already in the goal and the Lightning went up by three.

The score at the end of the first half effectively tells the story of how the game play went in the first 45 minutes.

The Lightning almost scored again when Sarah Johnson rushed Wood in the 64th minute. Johnson was barreling down the center of the field at full speed when she approached the 18 yard box. She slowed down but the ball did not and this gave Wood an opportunity to dive and grab the ball to keep the score 3-0.

After 90 minutes of play, the Lightning ended the game winning 3-0. This is their first game in three games but they still remain undefeated at home.

The Lightning continues their three game home stand on Wednesday, June 1 at 7:05 p.m. when they host the Chicago Red Eleven. Minnesota will try and get revenge on the Red Eleven for getting shut out the last time they met. After facing the Red Eleven, Minnesota will take on Kalamazoo Rage on Friday, July 3 at 7:05 p.m. For individual tickets, please visit www.ticketmaster.com or for group tickets call the Thunder office at 651.294.4664.

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USL First Division Stories from June 27, 2009


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