By Ron Hillis
The Gulf Breeze City Recreation Department hosted the US Deaf National Men’s Soccer Team for an exhibition game against the Bayside U17 boys’ soccer team, the Thunder, last Friday night. This makes the second time this year the US Deaf National team has played in the local area in preparation for their fall trip to Taiwan to compete in the 2009 Deaflympics. The US Deaf National team receives no government or corporate funding and team members are responsible for their own expenses. The Bayside Thunder parents and the Rec department help to offset their expenses by providing the fields and hosting a post game supper for the visiting athletes.
US Deaf National Men's Team with Santa Rosa County School's hearing impared students who attended with their families.The Thunder jumped out to an early lead on a shot by forward Doug Overlade who received a perfect pass on the run from Max Gerke. The game remained 1-0 until late in the first half when the US National team intercepted a pass and ran it by keeper Tyler Willets. Both teams had several scoring opportunities in the second half but great keeper play on both teams left the score at 1-1.
On Saturday the US National team traveled to Orange Beach, AL to play the Perdido U16 team in a game at the International Soccer Stadium that was the site for this year’s SEC women’s soccer championship. The US National team went ahead 2-0 at the half but Perdido rallied in the second and tied the game at 2-2. Both the Men’s and Women’s Deaf teams are coached by Bayside’s Ken McDonald and managed by his wife, Terri. For more information on the US National Deaf teams go to USDEAFSOCCER.com.
See News coverage: 
