Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal Power shift at annual tourney

By David Trifunov -
The September 03, 2004

The Minneapolis Internationals are back to defend their title, but longtime favorite Winnipeg Lucania is staying home.The Internationals slipped past Winnipeg Maples-Juventus 1-0 to win the $10,000 Thunder Bay Invitational soccer tournament last year. Lucania, multiple winners of the Labour Day weekend event, weren’t invited back, Soccer Northwest president Carmen Felice said. Invitational organizers were unhappy with Lucania’s behaviour at the tournament last season. So it’s the Internationals who lead a field of 10 teams vying for the $4,000 first prize in the men’s first division.“We don’t need a team to come here and ruin the tournament for everybody else,” Felice said.

Sure to provide plenty of competition in the 24-team tournament are Sons of Italy from Winnipeg. They were fighting with Lucania atop the Winnipeg Premiere Division heading into the weekend. Winnipeg Sokol is also poised to run for the title.“I think Sons of Italy is going to be strong, Sokol is going to be strong,” Felice said. Katie Weatherston scored three goals in a 6-1 win for Thunder Bay Impact over the Lakehead Express under-15s in the women’s first division last year. The Impact, Winnipeg Team Extreme, Lakehead Express U16 and Express U18s comprise the women’s top division this year.“That should be very competitive,” Felice said. “Actually that group should be one of the most competitive groups.”In the men’s second division, United defeated Nemesis 1-0 for the $1,000 prize one year ago.United and five other squads are fighting it out this year. Other Thunder Bay teams competing are the Spiders, EuroStars and Red Devils. Dryden United and Winnipeg SEU Empoli are the visiting teams. Lori Robertson scored a hat trick in a 4-1 win for Gleeson Clinic over the Winnipeg Titans in the women’s second division in 2003.Gleeson returns to duel alongside Santa Fe Legends, Winnipeg Titans and the Dryden Shooters.The tournament begins tonight at 6 p.m. with Italia-Juventus meeting Portuguese at Fort William Stadium. The men’s first division final is set for Monday at 1 p.m.