THUNDER BAY – The Thunder Bay Chill (11-1-2) enter into their last weekend of regular season play with a chance to clinch the Premier Development League (PDL), Heartland Division Title, as they host the Rochester Thunder (9-2-3) in a two game weekend series. The Chill currently sits atop the standings with 35 points, however; with two victories, the Thunder can snatch the division lead away from the Thunder Bay side.
The games will take place at Chapples Park, Thunder Bay, on Friday, July 23rd, 2010, and Saturday, July 24th, both kicking-off at 7:30 p.m. (EDT). Despite the Chill only needing a win or a tie from one of the two games this weekend to clinch the division title, Chill Head Coach Tony Colistro wants his player’s minds on two victories. “We don’t want to go out there with the mind-set of only trying to clinch, we want to win both games and ride the momentum into the playoffs,” said Colistro.
Chill striker Brandon Swartzendruber currently sits in second place in the race for top scorer in the PDL, with 12 goals in 14 games. Swartzendruber needs two goals to tie, and three to take the lead on current league leader Brent Richards of the Portland Timbers U23, who has 14 goals in 12 games.
After being hit hard by the injury bug last weekend, Chill Captain Wilson Neto and midfielder Rafa Heck are probably for Friday’s match. However, midfielder William Zardetto will be out after suffering a hamstring injury.