Thunder Re-Sign Three 21/02/04
The Minnesota Thunder announced today three returning players for the 2004 season, including veteran Mark Schulte. Shulte is returning for his fifth year on defense with the Thunder, Evan Richardson and Chris Vorenkamp return for their second season.
“Schulte is a consistent, dominant, positive force in the team and league and we are excited to have him back again this season,” said coach Buzz Lagos.
Schulte, 26, played 28 games in the 2003 season with a total of 2,518 minutes, scoring two goals and making one assist as defender. In 2002 he played 27 games while logging 2,184 minutes, and finished third in the team with six assists. He was also the Second team All-A-League selection. Schulte played soccer in college with new Thunder midfielder Godfrey Tenoff at the University of Dayton.
Vorenkamp and Richardson return to the Thunder to get more action than they saw last year. Michigan native Vorenkamp, 23, comes back as midfielder. He has previously played for the West Michigan Edge after attending Ohio Wesleyan University. While at OWU, he received the 2002-03 North Coast Athlete Award for his outstanding academic and athletic achievement.
Richardson, 24, started all 22 games for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2002, scoring three goals and helping the Panthers finish in the top-10 Division I teams in the country. As a graduate of St. Paul Central High school, Richardson will be making his homecoming at James Griffin Stadium, the new home of the Thunder.
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