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Thunder Earn a Point in Rochester From a 3-3 Draw Against the Rhinos

August 19, 2009 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Minnesota Thunder News Release


ROCHESTER, NY. (Wednesday, August 19, 2009) - The Minnesota Thunder refuses to take a loss with another last second goal to end the match in a 3-3 draw with the Rochester Rhinos. Both Rochester's and Minnesota's offense played at their best today scoring a total of six goals from six different players. Minnesota's Jeremiah Bass came up with the big goal in the second half stoppage time to earn a point for the Thunder.

The Thunder's Lawrence Olum scored the first goal on Minnesota's first offensive attack of the match. Rod Dyachenko was in the penalty box with a shooting lane but instead of taking the shot he passed it off to Olum. Olum used one of Rochester's defenders to screen Tim Melia and placed the ball in the left side of the goal.

In the 9th minute, Melvin Tarley was on a break away and found himself in a one on one with Melia. Tarley ripped a shot but it was right at Melia who easily made the save.

The Rhinos' Warren Ukah responded in kind in the 16th minute. Ukah took his shot and Nic Platter made a diving save but gave up a rebound. Ukah recovered the rebound and chipped the ball over Platter's hands for Rochester's opening goal.

Luck was not on the Thunder's side in the 37th minute. Andrew Gregor took a decent shot that found a player's head before the ball could reach Platter. It deflected off of the head and over Platter's hands for the go ahead goal.

Rich Costanzo evened the score before the halftime whistle blew. In the 42nd minute, Costanzo blasted a shot that threaded three Rochester defenders and an outstretched Melia. The snipe came from 25 yards out.

With four goals in the first half, both teams went into the locker rooms looking for ways to continue their offensive presence and build up their defensive efforts.

In the 47th minute, Rochester took back the lead with a goal from Nano Short. Ukah sent a corner kick into the goalie box and Platter tried to punch the ball away. A Rhino headed the ball down the line where Short headed it in for the third Rhino goal.

Jeremiah Bass scored the equalizer at the end of the second half's stoppage time. Ricardo Sanchez sent a corner kick into a sea of Minnesota players that were crowding the box and Bass was the one to collect the ball. He sent it to the snuck a shot past Melia to tie up the match and keeping the Thunder from taking a loss.

"The team's moral is great after tonight's game," said Thunder Head Coach Donny Gramenz. "The team is showing a lot of character by earning another point on the road. We just played out third game in six days and we did not 'escape' with a tie. Our first two goals, from Olum and Costanzo, were bombs and our third goal from Sanchez's corner kick to Bass. If anyone 'escaped' with a tie is was Rochester. We are looking forward to our match against Cleveland."

The Thunder will be riding the wave of energy from tonight's match into the last road game before they return to Minnesota. That match will be played against the Cleveland City Stars and can be viewed for free at www.usllive.com. The Thunder will be back in Minnesota on Thursday, August 27 at 7:05 p.m. when the Cleveland City Stars travels to Blaine.

For individual tickets to any Thunder home match, please visit www.ticketmaster.com or for group tickets call the Thunder office at 763.390.8336.



USL First Division Stories from August 19, 2009


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