The TNT Dynamite u14 boys storybook run through State Cup ended in East Lansing on June 4 in front of over 200 fans with a 2-1 loss to the top-seeded Vardar, with the game-winning goal scored in the final 90 seconds.

The game kicked off with Vardar carrying possession but unable to penetrate TNT’s defense.  TNT’s attack picked up 20 minutes into the game, with two great scoring chances – a Kyle Chapman crossed narrowly missing Cal Brogan’s run to the back post, and Brogan’s pin-point cross finding Monty Frankfort’s head, whose finish went just wide of the post.

TNT struck first at the 25 minute mark, as Johnny Rodgers and Shea Russ combined to find DeJuan Jones in behind the Vardar defense.  Jones, running at full speed and using his body to keep Vardar’s center back away from the ball, hit a superb finish on the ground just inside the far post for the home-side team to take a 1-0 lead, sending the partisan crowd into a frenzy.

“It was a brilliant build-up followed by an even more brilliant finish,” said TNT Coach Danny Price.  “We had talked at length about finding balls in through the channels, and the boys executed well on that play.”

The lead unfortunately would be short-lived.  At the 27 minute mark, Vardar equalized and eight minutes later the half would end deadlocked 1-1.

Said Price: “I was disappointed we couldn’t hold the lead.  Dan Raben (TNT Director of Coaching and Player Development) and I talked with the boys at half time about defensive adjustments, which the boys implemented well because Vardar had difficulty solving us in the second half.”

The defensive adjustments worked well, and heat and humidity took its toll on both teams in the second half, as few chances were created.  Vardar did generate some dangerous chances, but were turned away with great recovery runs from the TNT defenders and a few key stops from TNT goalkeeper Zach Kovan.

Late in the game, injury would strike TNT center back Tyler Bailey, who was carted off the field with a severe ankle sprain.  The loss of Bailey combined with the fatigue from the heat and the intensity of the match would give Vardar the opening they needed.

Vardar’s key player – who failed to generate many scoring chances in the previous 68 minutes – broke through the tackles of three TNT defenders to hit a strike on goal.  Kovan made the initial save, but the rebound deflected off a TNT defender to a Vardar player, who tapped home the game-winner with 90 seconds left.

TNT’s last ditch effort to score proved fruitless, and the whistle blew, ending TNT’s Cinderella run in State Cup.

Following the match, the team was applauded by the hundreds of family members, TNT players, fans and coaches in attendance, and was complimented by the opposing team, whose coach said that was the best performance they’ve seen from an opponent yet, and whose parents lauded the squad as the best tactically-organized team they’ve faced all season.

The State Cup run – which included victories over the third, sixth and seventh seeded teams in the state and a nail-biter of a championship match – was a remarkable feat.  “This team’s accomplishment is a sign to TNT’s players and families that our teams are capable of success at the highest level of play in Michigan, and a sign to the Lansing soccer community as well,” said Raben.  “It’s never been a better time to be part of TNT.”

Congratulations boys on a job well done!