By Ron Hillis
The Bayside 92 Thunder returned to form by winning the Emerald Coast Cup in Destin Florida held April 25/26. The Thunder won their bracket by beating the Brandon Futbol Club from Jackson MS 3-1 thanks to a hat trick from Danny Gibble. Danny scored two PK’ s and flicked another into the net from an initial flick from Doug Overlade off a Hunter Hillis throw in. In the next game the Thunder’s Blake Trotter placed two shots in the back of the net for a 2-0 win over PFC Blue.
In the semi finals the Thunder topped the host team, Emerald Coast United, by a 1-0 score from Doug Overlade’s angle shot from forward in the first half. The defense withstood a furious second half attack as Tyler Willets blocked all shots and earned the Thunder a spot in the championship.
The championship match was against the reigning Mississippi state champs and thirtieth ranked team in the nation, Jackson United Futbol Club. Jackson jumped to an early 1-0 lead from a corner kick which the Thunder matched with a header by Ryan Schuler from a corner kick of its own later in the half. The two teams battled to a 1-1 tie at the end of regulation and then forwards Eric Mayfield, Danny Gibble connected on a string of passes to Doug Overlade who placed the ball behind the outstretched goal keeper for the go ahead score. Tyler Willets made several great saves from around the goal as Jackson attempted to tie the game.
Champions at Emerald Coast CupNot Pictured-Hunter, Blake, Hayes, Jack B.
