The Hays Soccer Club’s U12 Hays Thunder went 4-0 at the Wichita Open last weekend in Wichita, KS. The Thunder started tournament play against the Northeast Oklahoma FC 2011 Gray on Saturday. The Thunder jumped out to a 2-0 lead halfway through the first period with goals from Joey Fisher and Noah DeBey. The first period finished with two more goals from Fisher with Col Lonsdale providing an assist. Starting the second period Thunder forced another goal off a NEOFC player to bring the score to 5-0. Dalton Herrman got into the action with a goal midway through the second period off an assist from Austin Liles. The match ended with a late goal from Col Lonsdale as the Thunder shut out the NEOFC Gray 7-0. The match saw shots on goal from Dalton Herrman(4), Noah DeBey(1), Joey Fisher(4), and Col Lonsdale(1) and one assist from Austin Liles and Col Lonsdale. Logan Cunningham and Joey Fisher kept NEOFC scoreless at keeper with four and one save respectively.

For the second pool play game on Saturday Thunder faced Derby United 2011 Black. Starting as a defensive battle in the first period Derby struck first with a goal midway through the first period. Thunder pushed back but had trouble finding the back of the net until Logan Cunningham scored off a Liles assist late in the first period. Early in the second period, Cunningham scored a second goal from a Fisher assist. Thunder picked up their final goal of the match from Herrman with Fisher providing the assist finishing off Derby 3-1. The match saw shots on goal from Dalton Herrman(5), Austin Liles(1), Joey Fisher(3), Logan Cunningham(3), Mason Zimmerman(1), and Col Lonsdale(1). Jace Herbers was the sole keeper throughout the match finishing with 6 saves.

For the final pool play game on Sunday Thunder took on Sporting Wichita Silver 11B. Jace Herbers scored Thunder’s first goal of the match early in the first period from a Mason Zimmerman assist. Thunder kept the pressure up through the first period but let a Sporting Wichita goal slip by towards the end of to tie up the match heading into halftime. After some back and forth to start the second period Herrman scored to put Thunder back in the lead. Sporting Wichita answered shortly after with a goal of their own tying the match at 2-2. Late into the second period, Lonsdale scored his second tournament goal, putting Thunder in the lead and finishing the match 3-2. The match saw shots on goal from Dalton Herrman(7), Hudson Sultzer(1), Austin Liles(6), Stryker Berry(4), Noah DeBey(2), Joey Fisher(2), Jace Herbers(1), Col Lonsdale(1), and Preston Dinkel(1). Logan Cunningham handled keeper duties recording 4 saves and securing Thunder a spot in the championship game.

Thunder once again faced off against Derby United 2011 Black in the championship game. The defensive battle from the first game continued with only one shot on goal by either team throughout the first half. The second period saw both teams within scoring distance as keeper Jace Herbers picked up the first of his 6 saves as the period started. Thunder put themselves in several scoring positions but Derby United shut them down at every turn. Just after the midway point in the second period Fisher found the back of the net from a Herrman assist to put Thunder up 1-0. Derby fought back late and found themselves with a scoring opportunity from a free kick with a chance to tie the game. Jace Herbers came up with a monster save to hold off Derby and secure the 1-0 win. The match saw shots on goal from Dalton Herrman(2), Austin Liles(2), Joey Fisher(3), Logan Cunningham(3), Mason Zimmerman(1), Col Lonsdale(1), Lakin Desaire(1), and Preston Dinkel(2).

With this first-place finish at the Wichita Open, the Hays Thunder improved to 11-3-1 for the season with their third medal in the four tournaments having taken first place at the Fall Kickoff Challenge and second place at the Challenger Sports Invitational both in Overland Park. The Hays Thunder is back in action October 14-16^th in Topeka at the Nightmare on 17^th Street tournament.