MINNESOTA THUNDER 2005 PREVIEW

LAST SEASON:

Regular season record:	13-6-9, 1^st place in Western Conference; lost to Vancouver in first round of playoffs
Record against active USL-1 teams:	5-2-6 (explanation)
RD's 2004 prediction:	n/a

In 2004, Minnesota was streakier than a hobo’s underpants (two wins, then two draws, then three wins, then three losses, then four wins, then four losses), but that was still good enough for first place out in the West. Minnesota's '04 record against active USL-1 teams would have been the worst in the league.

	SEACREST, OUT:
D Dustin Branan	to Kansas City; All-League First Team; 4 Teams of the Week
D Brian Roberts	to Kansas City
D Mark Schulte	to Columbus
M Marco Ferruzzi	to FC Dallas (assistant coach)
M Amos Magee	to retirement
F David Castellanos	(5+0=10 in just 11 starts) to Virginia Beach

Branan

	BACK IN BLACK:
M Jeff Matteo	(3+3=9); Player of the Week and two TOW
F Johnny Menyongar	(6+2=14); Liberian National Team captain
F Melvin Tarley	(8+1=17); POW; Liberian National Team
GK Joe Warren	(0.687 GAA, 15 SO); two TOW

	FRESH MEAT:
D C.Z. Pesznecker	from Calgary

LOCAL HISTORY:

- Rochester is 4-1-1 against Minnesota in the regular season

- Rochester is 2-0-1 against Minnesota in the playoffs

- On July 30, 2004, Rochester beat Minnesota at Frontier Field on an 87^th minute goal from Ryan Trout

- On June 14, 2003, Rochester won in Minnesota on an 85^th minute goal from Ian Fuller

- Stoian Mladenov is a former Minnesota player

THE LOWDOWN:

Minnesota, which underwent a change in ownership less than one month before the 2005 season begins, has announced no new signings (Pesznecker was in camp, but still remains unsigned – hey, RD had to put something in the "Fresh Meat" section), but you’d have to think somebody would be working overtime on replacing the core of their defense, which was the A-League’s second-stingiest last season. Losing Branan, Schulte and Roberts is almost incalculably devastating. Both of the Thunder’s draft picks (Sasha Gotsmanov and Gonzalo Segares) are currently playing with MLS teams, as well. These things, coupled with a much tougher 2005 schedule, are going to make Minnesota’s year long and frustrating . . . even if Liberia doesn't recall the teams two top strikers sporadically throughout the summer.

RD's 2005 prediction:

7-3-18, 11^th place and out of playoff contention