A STRONG, ACADEMY- DRIVEN WPSL NEWCOMER HAS SIGHT SET ON A CONFERENCE TITLE IN YEAR ONE

Photo Credits: Minnesota Thunder Media

Teams in the WPSL come from all different backgrounds. Some teams are built with a core of former collegiate players that are working on the pathway to professional soccer. Others are college students using the summer season to stay fresh, and gain a competitive advantage for the upcoming school year. Some, like Minnesota Thunder, are built within a youth academy that, after years, made the decision to join the league as the players grew into their high school and college years. Now, the Thunder are one win away from winning the Northern Conference in their first season in the WPSL.

Up and down the Thunder roster consists of alumnae from their academy. Of the 26 rostered players this WPSL season, 24 come from within their academy. Since Minnesota’s 1-2 loss to Salvo SC, on June 4, the Thunder haven’t lost a match. Even that loss has a caveat for Thunder coach Danny Storlien.

“Salvo.. they had 11 Minnesota Thunder alum and we lost to them. The league is packed full of Thunder academy players,” Storlien said. “Those games with Salvo have been fun and competitive with the history with the players.”

In the six matches that followed their season-opening loss, the Thunder haven’t just won, they’ve won big – just one of their six wins wasn’t by multiple goals. Through their first seven matches Thunder has averaged 3.5 goals per match.

A key to the Thunder’s success is their depth of roster. Take their 4-2 victory over the Maplebrook Fury on Sunday night when the Thunder were down 0-1 at halftime. In the second half, with fresh substitutes brought into the match, Thunder stormed back, scoring four goals. Another key is the style in which they play.

“It’s based around possession and passes completed. We try to play a possession style of soccer,” Storlien said. “We like to play on our front foot. High pressure, high intensity.”

Part of that offensive success come from three players in the offensive third – forwards, Paige Peltier and Morgan Turner, and midfielder, Lily Gilbertson.

Peltier finished her freshmen year at the University of Notre Dame this spring and was named Ms. Soccer Minnesota in 2019 – an award given by the Minnesota State High School Soccer Coaches Association. Peltier currently has six goals and four assists this WPSL season. Turner, who just finished her senior season at DePaul University, has recorded two goals thus far with the Thunder. Gilbertson’s role is a facilitating attacking midfielder, playing the 10-role but at Northwestern University, she is used as a forward. Gilbertson has five goals and an assist so far this season for the Thunder proving she can score too.

Don’t let all high scoring fool you though, the Thunder’s style isn’t a run-and-gun, ‘we score six and you score three’ type of game – defense comes first. Every match their goal on defense is to come away with a clean sheet and they’ve achieved that in three of their matches while only conceded more than one in a single game once. An accomplishment that can be allocated to high school goalkeeper, Jordan Hecht, who’s recorded a majority of the team’s minutes this season.

While 2021 is Minnesota Thunder’s first season in the WPSL, it doesn’t allow themselves to use it as an excuse to not compete. For Storlien the competition has been tough, but the Thunder came into the season with one goal in mind – win.

“It’s been the goal since we started on the first day was to win the conference,” Storlien  Storlien. “We’ve found in the league that everyone has quality players, great coaches and great organizations. They’re super competitive on all the teams.”

A team Thunder hasn’t faced this season is their final opponent of the year – Rochester United FC, who are currently in fourth place and have two matches still left to play. Like the Thunder, Rochester has just one loss this season – a 0-2 defeat to Mankato United Soccer Club on June 16.

Rochester travels to the Academy of Holy Angels Stardome, the Thunder’s home field, after a 4-0 victory over Fire SC 98 on June 23.

Wednesday night’s match kicks off at 7:45 p.m. CT, live on Eleven Sports; the official streaming partner of the WPSL.

    Author:   Thomas  Costello;  @1thomascostello (twitter)
    WPSL Contributor - Central Region