Saturday’s Decisive Match to Be Broadcast Locally on WEZU 1220 AM
BLAINE, Minn. (Sept. 13, 2002) – The Minnesota Thunder re-signed its 2002 leading scorer, Johnny Menyongar, to a three-year contract, team officials announced today. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.


Menyongar, the 23-year-old native of Monrovia, Liberia, has scored 15 goals and 13 assists this season with the Thunder. He finished the regular season tied for first in the League for most assists, in helping his team to its eighth appearance in the A-League playoffs in nine years.


“Johnny is one of the most entertaining players to watch in this league,” said Jim Froslid, Thunder general manager. “His ability to beat defenders in tight spaces is mind boggling sometimes. We are extremely thrilled that he will be a part of the Thunder for another three years.”


Menyongar, who was named to the A-League’s All-League Second Team earlier this week, is in his third season with the Thunder. He began his career with the Thunder after being discovered in the team’s annual combine try-outs in February of 2000. He was invited to the Thunder’s pre-season after being chosen out of 40 players from 15 different nations who participated in the combine.


Prior to signing with the Thunder as a free-agent in 2000, Menyongar attended Lindsey Wilson College in Columbia, Ky., where he led the team to its third NAIA Championship in four seasons by tallying 13 goals and adding 19 assists in 1998.


The 5-4, 140-pound striker scored two goals and notched four assists for eight points last season with the Thunder. He saw action in 13 games, 12 of which he started, and logged 1,064 minutes.


In 2000, the Menyongar set the Thunder record for overall goals (21) and points (50) in regular season and playoff games. A member of the Liberian National Team, he was the first Thunder player to notch hat tricks in multiple A-League games. He tied for the 2000 A-League lead in goals with a club record of 17 during the regular season. Menyongar was also a second team All-League selection that same year.


The Thunder clashes with the Rampage tomorrow night in Milwaukee in the second leg of the two-game, total-goals series of the Western Conference semifinals. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. For the first time this season, the Thunder’s road match will be broadcast locally on WEZU 1220 AM. Broadcast begins at 6:45 p.m., with a 30-minute post-game wrap up immediately following the conclusion of Saturday’s match. The play-by-play and color commentating duties will be handled by Dave Washburn (freelance write for Minnesota Score magazine) and Dean Campbell (former media relations manager of the Thunder).


The Minnesota Thunder, founded in 1990, is a professional soccer franchise that plays in the Western Conference of the 18-team A-League. The Thunder's home schedule runs May through September at the National Sports Center in Blaine. Information on single-game and season tickets, as well as youth camps, can be found on the team's website www.mnthunder.com or by calling 763-785-3668.