Thunder Hungry to Atone for Weekend Loss to Milwaukee Tonight at Portland

Published on May 27, 2003 under USL First Division (USL-1)
Minnesota Thunder News Release


BLAINE, Minn. (Tuesday, May 27, 2003) – The Minnesota Thunder play a road match tonight (kickoff 9 p.m. CT) against the Portland Timbers at PGE Park. The Thunder hopes to rebound from a disappointing 2-1 home loss to the Milwaukee Wave United over the weekend.

The Thunder, (4-2-0, 12 pts.) tied atop the Central Division with the Cincinnati Riverhawks, have its second opportunity to pull ahead in the standings. Despite Saturday's loss, the Thunder remains tied for first place with Cincinnati who was idle over the weekend.

Portland (2-5-0, 6 pts.) is coming off a 2-1 weekend loss at Calgary. The Timbers are currently in fourth place in the Pacific Division.

The Timbers roster features 2002 A-League scoring champion McKinley Tennyson (42 points) and co-goal scoring champion Fadi Afash (18 goals). Tennyson an All A-League First Team selection finished tied with Afash as the leading goal scorer.

In 2002, the Thunder split two games with Portland, with each team winning on the road. The Timbers finished the season in second place in the Pacific Division, losing to Vancouver in the first round of the A-League playoffs.

2. TICKETS AVAILABLE FOR FIRST-EVER SCHOOL DAY GAME THURSDAY

The Minnesota Thunder host the Sioux Falls Spitfire of the Premier Development League for its first-ever School Day game Thursday, May 29 (kickoff 10 a.m.) at the National Sports Center. The game is an educational exhibition soccer match geared toward kindergarten through 8th grade students.

The game will have a distinct format, featuring four quarters with educational elements during each break. Between each quarter, Thunder players will present interactive educational demonstrations emphasizing the importance of a healthy lifestyle, nutrition, reading and education and staying drug-free.

"This event is a great opportunity for students to learn important lifelong lessons from professional athletes," said TJ Varecka, Thunder director of sales and marketing. "It is also a great way for the Thunder organization to give back to its loyal youth fans.

Participating sponsors include Minnesota Department of Health, HealthPartners and Northwest Athletic Clubs.

Students will receive a Thunder workbook with age-appropriate questions that will coincide with educational elements during each break.

Thunder player/coach Amos Magee will emcee the event.

Tickets will be available on game day for $5. The cost includes a game ticket, educational workbook and a sponsor goody bag. For more information contact Matt Handy at 763-785-3668 or Matt@mnthunder.com.

3. THUNDER SUMMER CAMP PROGRAM ANNOUNCES STAFF FOR ITS 12 JUNE CAMPS

The Minnesota Thunder's 10th annual summer youth soccer camp program set to begin June 9, announced its coaching staff for its June camps held in 12 different metro-area locations. Here is a preview of where your favorite players will be coaching in June. June 9-13: Chaska: Kevin Anderson, Niels Bo Daugaard, Adam Eyre, Alvin Hudson, Zafer Kilickan, Hugo Llamas, Steve Shak and Joe Warren.

Hastings: Marco Ferruzzi, Marshall Morehead, Brad Swenby and Evan Richardson.

Mound: Sean Brown, Don Gramenz, Don Mark, Johnny Menyongar, Johnny Torres and Greg Wheaton. June 16-20: Apple Valley: Dustin Branan, Marco Ferruzzi, Don Gramenz, Marshall Morehead, Evan Richardson and Joe Warren.

Bloomington: Amos Magee, Don Mark and Greg Wheaton.

Monticello: Johnny Menyongar, Melvin Tarley, Johnny Torres and Brad Swenby.

Plymouth: Kevin Anderson, Sean Brown, Niels Bo Daugaard, Adam Eyre, Alvin Hudson, Zafer Kilickan, Hugo Llamas and Steve Shak. Jun 23-27: Blaine: Adam Eyre, Marco Ferruzzi, and Melvin Tarley.

Burnsville: Dustin Branan and Johnny Torres.

Hopkins: Sean Brown, Zafer Kilickan, Amos Magee, Evan Richardson and Greg Wheaton.

White Bear Lake: Kevin Anderson, Alvin Hudson, Marshall Morehead and Brad Swenby. June 29-July: Residential: Buzz Lagos, Phil Nell, John Tudor and Greg Wheaton.

Thunder camps are the most popular youth soccer camps in Minnesota with over 2,000 kids participating last year. The Thunder camps, in existence since 1994, are the official camps of the Minnesota Youth Soccer Association.

For more information on the Thunder's camp program contact John Menk, Thunder director of youth development at 763-785-3668 or at www.mnthunder.com/camps/defauly.asp.

4. WOMEN'S WORLD CUP RELOCATED TO U.S.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter announced Monday that the United States will host the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup, after the U.S. Soccer Federation had organized an impressive bid to assist FIFA and stage the event on short notice.

The Minnesota Thunder and the National Sports Center have put in a written request to host games.

The 2003 Women's World Cup had originally been scheduled for China from Sept. 23 to Oct. 11, but was moved out of the country by FIFA on May 3 because of the threat of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). FIFA chose the United States over Sweden, the only other country besides the USA to make a formal bid to host the tournament.

5. NIKE REPORTEDLY INKS DEAL WITH 13-YEAR-OLD SOCCER SENSATION FREDDY ADU

Thirteen-year-old soccer sensation Freddy Adu, who is scheduled to play in Blaine July 13 with the U-17 National Team, agreed to a $1 million contract with Nike, it was reported by the Washington Post. A native of Ghana, Adu came to the United States when he was eight and has been training with the national team in Bradenton, Fla. He became a U.S. citizen in February. The agreement comes less than a week after Nike signed high school phenom LeBron James, the expected No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft, to an endorsement contract worth more than $90 million.

For tickets to see Adu and the rest of the U.S. U-17 National Team take on Canada team call the Thunder at 763-785-3668.

6. U.S. U-17 MEN'S NATIONAL TEAM SPLITS WEEKEND SET; LOSE TO MEXICO 2-1, DEFEAT COSTA RICA 3-2

The U.S. Under-17 Men's National Team downed Costa Rica 3-2 in an entertaining friendly this morning at Lancaster Soccer Complex in Lancaster, California.

Eddie Gaven, Freddy Adu and Guillermo Gonzalez all scored for the U.S. in the game, which was part of the triangular friendlies played in Lancaster the past few days between the three teams that qualified from CONCACAF for the Under-17 FIFA World Championship (U.S., Mexico and Costa Rica).

The U.S. played Mexico yesterday, falling 2-1 in a rough game, bringing the team's overall international record this year to 6-2-2. This was the last match for the Under-17s before they travel to Busan , Korea for an international youth tournament on Tuesday night.

7. THUNDER TRIVIA

Think you know the Thunder? Test your knowledge. Find all the Thunder information you need at the team's website http://www.mnthunder.com. Be one of the first 10 people to respond with the correct trivia answers and receive a Thunder T-shirt, complements of Target and the Minnesota Thunder.

* Three former Thunder players were named a 1995 Midwest Division All-Star. Who are they?

*Who is the only Thunder player to be named the A-League MVP?

*In the 1998 playoffs, the Thunder received the 4th seed in the Western Conference. Who was seeded first?

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



USL First Division Stories from May 27, 2003


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.

OurSports Central