Minnesota Thunder Partner with Rock the Cure on Sunday’s Final Game

Thunder Players Will Wear Pink Jerseys for Breast Cancer Awareness Auction

All Youth 18 and Under Get in FREE by Wearing a Soccer Jersey for Fan Appreciation Night

Thunder and Lightning Game-Worn Jersey Auction Taking Place Online Through September 20

BLAINE, Minn. (Monday, September 14, 2009) – The Minnesota Thunder have only one match left in their 2009 campaign and it will be played at the National Sports Center on Sunday, September 20 at 5:05 p.m. when they host the Charleston Battery. Sunday marks the annual “Breast Cancer Awareness Night” featuring the Thunder players in pink jerseys that will be auctioned off during the game. The money raised and a portion of all ticket sales will be donated to Rock the Cure, a non-profit organization.

Fans can purchase a limited edition pink t-shirt and silver level ticket package for only $20, or can purchase the t-shirt separately for $10. T-shirt quantities are limited. To purchase the ticket/t-shirt package or to preorder your t-shirt, please call the Thunder office at 763-390-8336.

Sunday’s match will also mark “Fan Appreciation Night.” On this evening, all youth ages 18 and under wearing a soccer jersey will gain admission to the match absolutely FREE! Youth can just show up at the gate as no ticket is required if wearing a jersey.

Thunder and Lightning Jersey Auction
The Thunder and Lightning annual jersey auction has begun. This season’s auction will take place over the course of 10 days and will close on September 20 at 11:59 p.m. Fans began bidding at last Thursday’s home game. The highest bids are updated constantly on the Thunder website. Fans can follow the bidding by clicking on the link on the Thunder home page at www.mnthunder.com. Fans can email in their bids to the Thunder office at angie@mnthunder.com.

About the Thunder (7-12-10; 31 pts.):
The Minnesota Thunder had a very rocky start to their 2009 campaign but have turned their season around in September. In fact, the Thunder have not lost a match all month, but despite their late season efforts, Minnesota will not advance to the USL First Division playoffs this season.

The Thunder returns to Minnesota after a 1-1 draw with the Montreal Impact on Sunday. Minnesota’s Marco Terminesi scored early in the sixth minute and the Thunder held on to the lead until the end of the game. In the 85th minute, Peter Byers of Montreal was able to slip a ball past Thunder keeper Matt VanOekel. Sunday marked VanOekel’s first USL First Division match in two seasons with the Thunder.

Marco Terminesi has produced well for the Thunder since he joined the team mid season. He is on a two-game streak of scoring within the first ten minutes of the match. He is tied for second in goals scored with Ricardo Sanchez, each with six goals. Terminesi has also assisted in three other goals for 15 points.

The Thunder have performed well against the Battery this season, amassing a tie on the road on April 24th, and most recently earning a decisive 3-1 victory on the road on September 6.

About the Battery (13-5-10; 49 pts.):
The Charleston Battery has been near the top of the USL First Division leader board all year long and currently they are in fourth but only one point behind the third place Puerto Rico Islanders. The Battery have two games left in their season, so they still have an opportunity to move up in the USL First Division standings.

The Battery jumped up to third place in the standings with a 2-1 victory over the Miami FC Blues on Friday. Charleston took the lead in the 30th minute with a goal from Darren Spicer but Miami evened the score when Aaron King scored in the 73rd minute. The Battery did reclaim the lead in the final seconds when Scott Buete scored the go-ahead goal in the 90th minute.

Forward Randi Patterson is leading the Battery in points and goals scored this season. In the 27 matches that he has appeared in, Patterson has scored six goals and assisted in two others for a total of 14 points.

About Rock the Cure
Blue Jeanne, Inc. is a tax exempt, nonprofit corporation established in 2005. Our mission statement is to eradicate women’s cancers, specifically but not limited to breast cancer, through fund raising efforts, then distribute these funds to organizations that provide for treatment, education and prevention of cancers. Our fund raisers are music-themed events, celebrations of the strength of women who have fought and continue to fight cancer. Inspired by a friend who was diagnosed with breast cancer, we will continue to organize our efforts in search of a cure, to fund as many Twin Cities breast cancer charities as possible, and work to raise awareness and money to fight this fight.

Since 2005, Blue Jeanne, Inc. proudly donated over $72,000 to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Twin Cities and Chicago land affiliates.

For more information, please visit www.rockthecure.org