Top Ten Minnesota Soccer events in 2008
Since everyone seems to do an end of the year, top “something” list, I decided, -quite late I should add- to do my own top ten list of soccer stories in MInnesota in 2008.
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#10-Donny Gramenz named permanent coach of the Thunder after posting a 7-4-4 record with the team as interim coach. (11-17-08)
#9-MN State High School Tournament (10-30-08)
- A Girls- Mahtomedi 1-0 Holy Angels
33 min. Maht scores off their 5th corner of the game. Erica Hjelle drives the corner near post, head high on a rope. Defender Cassie Stange charges in near post and drives the ball with her head into the back netting.
- A Boys- Blake 1-0 Totino Grace
David Nash with a monster throw into the TG box from the left side, the ball goes high to Austin Dressen who jumps above everyone and flicks the ball with his head into the right side of the goal. TG Keeper Lusk, had no chance.
- AA Girls – Eden Prairie 1-2 Woodbury
On a corner, with 7 min. left in the game, Lauren Reed heads the ball back into the EP box where it is headed again by Alyssa DuVal and finally to Emily Moris who is standing just in front of the goal. She heads the ball up and over the keeper to break the deadlock and the score stands.
- Saint Louis Park 1- 4 Osseo
John Nuefille scores a brace and Ahmad Bah and Albert Sims each score to route SLP with a very explosive offense of Osseo.
#8- Minnesota D-2 and D-3 college teams plunged deeper into the NCAA playoffs then ever before, with The Carleton women making it to the round of 8, while the Augsburg and Carleton men’s teams both made it to the round of 16. (11-08)
#7-Thunder announce a PDL team in Rochester MN. (12-4-08)
#6- Thunder announce they will leave James Griffin Stadium and move to Blaine immediately (5-12-08)
#5- Amos Magee resigns his position as head coach. Donny Gramenz named interim coach, (07-22-08)
#4-Thunder and National Sports Center complete renovations at the NSC, making it one of the best soccer specific stadiums in the USL. (July 08)
#3-U of M Women Soccer Team make it to the sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament and share in top honors in the Big Ten. It’s a record breaking season at 22-4-0. (Fall 08)
#2-Thunder make playoffs for the first time since 2004. The team looses to Vancouver 2-0 first game away, then win 4-3 come from behind home second second leg, but lose 5-4 aggregate. (September 08)
#1- Thunder announce youth academy (MTA) resulting in MYSA breaking partnership with MN Thunder. (6-12-08)
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Honorable mentions:
Steven DeRoux uses his option clause and leaves for Montreal.
Amos Magee inducted into the USL Hall of Fame.
Thunder announce new uniform and logo.
Thunder marketing director, Peter Johns resigns position after just 6 months on the job.
FC Burnley come to town for exhibition.
What was the #1 MN soccer story in 2008?
- Thunder announce youth academy (33%, 24 Votes)
- Thunder make playoffs for the first time since 2004 (21%, 15 Votes)
- MN college teams plunged deeper into the NCAA playoffs then ever before (12%, 9 Votes)
- U of M Women Soccer Team make it to the sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament (11%, 8 Votes)
- Thunder and National Sports Center complete renovations at the NSC (7%, 5 Votes)
- Thunder announce a PDL team in Rochester MN (5%, 4 Votes)
- Thunder announce they will leave James Griffin Stadium and move to Blaine immediately (4%, 3 Votes)
- MN State High School Tournament (3%, 2 Votes)
- Donny Gramenz named permanent coach of the Thunder (1%, 1 Votes)
- Amos Magee resigns his position as head coach (1%, 1 Votes)
- Other - leave your answer in the comments (2%, 1 Votes)
Total Voters: 73
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Dale Weiler scored first goal in his USL career (Summer 2008).
the best story of the year was: the launch of Inside Minnesota Soccer
I gotta go with the renovations at the NSC. Maybe with the new renovations MN can land a senior national team game like Cary did before the 06 WC.
smatthew,
Not to be a naysayer, but I can see another youth national team event out there but not a sr. team event. I think we’d have a much better chance of getting the full national team at the new Gopher Stadium before NSC. I know for a fact that US Soccer has been notified of the new TCF Stadium but at this point I don’t think they have any notions about bringing the team here. There are two or three qualifiers YTBD I believe.
An argument against the TCF stadium would be the fact that the U of M have been pretty clear that they don’t want any other events other than Gophers football games there for the first couple of years. So don’t look for any concerts, monster truck pulls, or Lallapalooza events to be held there – at least for a while. If the Nats were to play there they would have to have the additional expense of bringing in real sod. If we were to ever land another W.C. in the US, … you just never know. The publicity of that would certainly make the U of M consider their options.
Good point BQ. I completely forgot about the Gophers new stadium. Nonetheless, I still stand by renovation vote. The NSC is pretty much the defacto soccer Mecca of Minnesota and its nice to see the stadium field renovated to suit the sport more; plus I love seeing the Thunder play on a full sized grass pitch.
PS: nice to see a top 10 list like this too.
PPS: I am surprised that the Gophers are asking to hold off on hosting other sporting events at the new site. I figured the first time there was a chance the Wild would get to play a game there on Jan. 1st.