The ’92 Sterling Thunder went 4-0-0 on the way to the championship in the U15B Challenge Division.

The Thunder started out with a strong 4-0 win over the SYC Swat early on Saturday morning.  Goals from Ryan Harting, Eddy Funes, George Echart and Howie Lumsden started the Thunder off to a strong 1st game showing. 

Game 2 against a very physical SYA Tigers team proved to be a match of endurance.  The Tigers scored first, but the Thunder matched it up before the half with a scrappy goal by Jaun Campos- scoring his first team goal in only his second game with the Thunder.  The heat proved too much for the Tigers as the Thunder took the lead with Eddy Funes’ second goal of the tournament for the game winner.  The Tigers called it quits about 5 minutes before the fianl whistle when the heat and the Thunder attack got the best of their struggling players.

The Sunday morning match against the Calverton Bulls began with the strong offensive work of Eddy and George in the foward positions.  Jake Landmesser ran the defense from the sweeper position while Sean Bonnette and Vishal Patel closed ranks at the defensive backs.  Michael Donohue filled the middle at stopper and added his strong ball clearing to the defense.  Matt Baker in the goal provided key saves and ball distribution from the keeper position.  Goals from Eddy and George put the Thunder into the final although the Bulls pulled one back before the end.

The afternoon final looked to be a challenge for the Thunder against an impressive Loudoun Arsenal, who played in NCSL Div. 5 in the Spring.  The game went into the 2nd half in a 1-1 tie until the Thunder broke through with a flurry of goals from Eddy Funes and Howie Lumsden for a 3-1 victory.

The Sterling Thunder U14 Boys rode four shutouts to take the Mid County 2006 Fall Classic Royal Division Championship over the weekend of November 18-19, 2006.

The Thunder began the weekend by playing shortened games of 15-min halves due to rain-caused field closures.  The short durations didn’t stop the Thunder goal scoring which started very early in both preliminary matches.  Knowing the team’s success when getting the early first goal, the Thunder came out strong in the first game, winning 2-0 against the ODSL, Div. 1 BRYC Storm.   Jake Landmesser, normally the stalwart sweeper, pushed forward to knock in a perfect cross from forward, Connor Jenkins.  The Thunder began the second half in like fashion by scoring early on a breakaway run, again by Landmesser.  

The Thunder broke free in the 2nd game of the afternoon by unleashing 4 goals against the host, Mid-County Tigres.  The ODSL Div. 3 team could not match the pace of forward, Connor Jenkins as he cruised past the defense twice to strike the back of the net.  The Tigres keeper was helpless to keep a corner kick out of the net which was sent sailing in from midfielder George Echart.   Tireless work by Sterling’s midfielders, Michael Barbour, Ian Vanburen, Tyler Walker and Michael Donohue controlled the ball possession and broke up any developing attacks.

Sterling came out on Sunday morning leading the flight with 6 points, 6 goals.  The 3rd match, against the Frederick FC Royal proved to be the most physical of the competition, with the frustrated FC hitting hard on the Thunder players.   Sterling refused to become rattled and gave up no ground.  Brennen Trippler and Ryan Dennis at the stopper position closed up the center near the Sterling box and won most free balls.  The Thunder kept the upper hand and maintained constant pressure in the attacking side with near goals by Jay Ives, Ryan Harting and Stefan Vanburen.  Sterling struck successfully and found the net twice and moved to the final against the rested BRYC Phoenix.  The Phoenix had played at 8:00am and drew 0-0 against the host MCSA Admirals to win flight A.

As the Thunder walked off from victory over the FC Royal, the Phoenix took the field for the immediate final clash.  The tournament officials and referees apologized for Sterling’s having to play back to back matches, but there was no relief.  The Thunder took a few breaths and stretches and were back on the pitch for the final matchup.   The unbreakable defensive unit led by guest player, Eddy Funes at the sweeper position and Matt Baker at keeper proved too strong for the Phoenix.  Funes fought and won every loose ball and Baker came out of his box often to snuff out the onrunning attackers.  The Thunder worked hard to break down the Phoenix and hit the goal with a corner kick from left-footed Echart that found nothing but net as it curved into the crowded goal.  The Thunder owned the left side of the field with excellent ball movement from Vishal Patel and Adrian Ampeh.  Both left-footers, they worked the ball on the flank and started off the attacks by sending forward several well-placed long balls.  Sterling kept up the offensive pressure and was awarded a PK which saw Tyler Walker’s hard strike kept out by a diving Phoenix keeper.  Another beautiful Jenkins’ cross from the left side was headed in by Echart, who was ruled offside to negate the effort.  In the waning minutes the Phoenix pushed forward, desparate to even things up.  A breakaway run looked menacing against Baker, but was stripped at the last second by onrushing defender, Sean Bonnette, who came from the far side to save the day.

The long overdue whistle signaled the end and Baker’s goal remained unbroken to give the Thunder their first tournament Chanpionship.