Veterans get their first title in four tries
The Minnesota Thunder finished a quest that started 10 years ago when it won the Æ99 A-League championship. Coach Buzz Lagos profiles the six Thunder players who won their first national championship in four tries at the USL level:
John Swallen (goalkeeper). Swallen, 34, was named the A-League MVP this season after compiling a league-best 17 wins, 0.56 goals-against average and 11 shutouts. He was the first goalkeeper so honored since the ASL and WSL merged in 1991.
Lagos: ôSwallen has been our No. 1 goalkeeper for 10 years now and has been solid and steady. HeÆs had some good years and some OK years. He never had a bad year. This year he had a phenomenal year, his career year. And it came at a very timely moment as we won the national championship and he was the MVP of the league.ö
Mark Abboud (defender). Abboud, 29, didnÆt see any action in the 1999 playoffs. He is the director of the ThunderÆs Learn from the Pros summer and winter camps.
Lagos: ôAbboud is a crafty, quick, smart player whoÆs filled a variety of different roles for our team. HeÆs played some forward. HeÆs played some midfield. He settled in as a sweeper for most of the years weÆve had him and did so very effectively. He stepped up last year after John Menk got hurt and carried the defense through to the championship game.ö
John Coughlin (defender). Coughlin, 26, made the All-A-League second team. He scored MinnesotaÆs first goal of the season, the gamewinner in a rematch of last seasonÆs final against Rochester.
Lagos: ô[Cough-lin] defends with such tenacity that he causes teams all kinds of trouble. In the air, heÆs just dominant. His competitiveness and his attitude have been just terrific for our team.ö
Don Gramenz (defender). Gramenz, 28, was another vital cog in a defense that came within two goals of RochesterÆs 1998 record (15) for fewest goals allowed in a season.
Lagos: ôDonny always goes by the label that he may be small, but heÆs scrappy and tough. HeÆs a great little defender who works like crazy up and down the flank. HeÆs got great attacking skills and loves to take players on. He has a great right-footed shot. He also gets to the line and puts great crosses in with his left foot.ö
Amos Magee (forward). Magee, 28, led the Thunder in scoring in the playoffs and was second overall with 10 points on four goals and two assists. The Thunder captain is the teamÆs all-time leading scorer (140 points).
Lagos: ôAmos went to a Division III college [Wesleyan] after high school and just kept improving. HeÆs getting better and better and better. HeÆs turned into a dynamic forward, who has a great attitude and is a great leader.ö
Gerard Lagos (forward). Lagos, 30, and Swallen are the sole survivors from the Minnesota Thunder charter team. He continued his knack for clutch performances in the postseason, finishing second on the team with nine points (four goals and one assist).
Lagos: ôGerard scored the first goal ever for the Thunder against the Winnipeg Fury, a game which we won. And then we also beat the San Francisco Bay Blackhawks in the second game, and he scored in that one, too. So he had a great start with the Thunder and has had a great career.ö
by Soccer America associate editor Poul Swain