Vancouver, British Columbia (May 7, 2004) –

The Minnesota Thunder dropped a very close game to the
Vancouver Whitecaps on Friday night in British Columbia. Marshall
Morehead tallied his first goal of the season for the Thunder in the
first half, but the Whitecaps answered with a goal of their own in
the second half that eventually sent the game into overtime. The
Whitecaps won with under a minute left in the game courtesy of Jason
Jordan’s first goal of the year.

The Thunder’s early season record falls to 1-1, while the
Whitecaps pick up their fist win of the season, after drawing in
their opener, to improve to 1-0-1.

The Thunder opened scoring quickly when Johnny Menyongar
found himself with the ball outside of the 18-yard box in the 10th
minute. He was able to slide a pass through the Whitecaps defense to
Marshall Morehead who turned just inside the box and fired the ball
past the diving Whitecap’s goalkeeper, Mike Franks.

It seemed as though the 1-0 lead would not be easy to hold as
the Whitecaps pressured the Thunder defense late in the half. Jason
Jordan had two excellent chances for the Vancouver side late in the
half, as he fired a shot over the bar in the 41st minute and had a
shot turned away by Joe Warren in the last minute of the half. The
Thunder took the 1-0 lead into halftime, but was out-shot by the
Whitecaps by a 5-2 margin.

The second half opened with the Whitecaps continuing to put
pressure on the Thunder defense. Jason Jordan was stopped on a
partial breakaway by Joe Warren and a header from Kevin Harmse sailed
just over the Thunder goal. The Whitecap’s pressure finally paid off
in the 56th minute when Carlo Corazzin drove a powerful header into
the back of the Thunder goal from a corner kick taken by Oliver Heald.

90 minutes proved not to be enough time to claim a winner,
however, as the end of regulation found the two teams tied 1-1. As
the two teams headed into overtime Vancouver held a 16-8 shot
advantage.

Neither team was able to score in the early goings of
overtime, but both teams had good chances to put the game way in the
closing minutes. Thunder first- year player Jay Alberts fired a
volley just wide of the goal in the 107th minute and the Whitecaps
Jason Jordan had a near post shot pushed wide by Joe Warren in the
109th minute. It was the ensuing corner kick that led to the goal by
Jordan as he connected with the cross by Martin Nash with a low
driven header. The goal came with under a minute left in the game.

“We played a pretty good game,” said Coach Lagos after the
game, “We got an early goal and had some good chances. They had some
good chances, too. They came out in the second half with a couple of
offensive flurries.”

“There were two really good teams out there. Neither was
satisfied to sit in and defend, both teams were constantly looking to
attack. Jay Alberts hit a cracker that went just wide and Marshall
Morhead had a near-miss diving header.”

Commenting on the fact that both of Vancouver’s goals came on
corner kicks Lagos said, “We’ll work on our corner kick defending,
but we know we’re a good team. And they also know that we’re a good
team. We had two of the best teams in the division out there.”

Tonight’s game was the first of four match-ups between the
Thunder and Whitecaps. Last season the teams met only once, a game
that went scoreless through 90 minutes of regulation and also went
into overtime. Vancouver snuck by the Thunder last year, as well,
after being awarded a penalty kick in the 97th minute, which was
converted by the Whitecap’s Carlo Corazzin. The 2004 campaign
continues in Canada with the Thunder traveling to Calgary to face the
Mustangs. The meeting between the two teamss will be the second in
the early season. The Thunder defeated Calgary 2-0 at the Metrodome
in the season opener.

After the match versus Calgary the Thunder return to
Minnesota for the first match at their new home, James Griffin
Stadium in St. Paul. The Thunder face off against the Edmonton
Aviators on Saturday, May 15th. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. The cost
for general admission tickets is $12 for adults and $8 for youth
ages 18 and under. Flex packs, VIP tickets and group discount rates
are also available. Tickets for the game can be purchased online at
www.mnthunder.com, or by calling the Thunder office at 651-917-8326.

GAME NOTES:

Godfrey Tenoff and Mike Wilson both made their Thunder
debuts. Tenoff entered the game in the 75th minute for Jeff Matteo.
The South African native came over to the Thunder after spending 4
years with the Indiana Blast where he was named the team’s MVP in
2003. Wilson entered the game in the 98th minute of play for Chris
Vorenkamp. Wilson, who attended Stanford University, is originally
from New Zealand and has played with the New Zealand national team.

The Whitecaps are currently on a 17 game undefeated streak,
dating back to last season. Their last loss came on July 3, 2003
versus Portland.

SCORING SUMMARY:
Thunder – Morehead (Menyongar) 10
Vancouver – Corazzin (Heald) 56
Vancouver – Jordan (Nash) 110

GAME LINEUPS:
Whitecaps: 1.Mike Franks - 22.Chris Franks (14.John Sulentic 30'),
2.Jeff Clarke (23.Jeremie Piette 78'), 18.Justin Thompson 8.Steve
Kindel (12.Oliver Heald 45'), 28.Kevin Harmse, 9.Alfredo Valente,
11.Davide Xausa (20.Dave Morris 96'), 7.Martin Nash - 19.Carlo
Corazzin, 26.Jason Jordan

Minnesota: 23.Joe Warren - 13.Dustin Branan, 11.Brent Jacquette,
5.Chris Brunt, 16.Chris Vorenkamp (14.Michael Wilson 98'), 12.Jay
Alberts, 6.Kevin Friedland (2.Zafer Kilickan 96'), 3.Freddy Juarez,
4.Jeff Matteo (Godfrey Tenoff 75') - 19.Marshall Morehead (18.Melvin
Tarley 100'), 10.John Menyongar

Cautions:
Vancouver: Jeff Clarke 13' , Davide Xausa 72'
Minnesota: Chris Brunt 47'

Vancouver Minnesota
Shots 20 9
Fouls 15 12
Offsides 10 2
Corners 12 2

Goalkeepers Shots Saves GA
Franks (Vanc) 9 2 1
Warren (Minn) 20 7 2
Referee: Dave Gantar (Edmonton)