MNUFC Power Soccer preps for national tourney
[Allina Health Newsroom, February 06, 2025]
The MNUFC Power Soccer team recently continued its training by heading south for a weekend packed with play.
“This is an international tournament,” coach Katie Kensy said. “It’s very exciting that we get to participate.”
Athletes, coaches, family and friends of the Loons traveled to sunny Arizona for the Phoenix Rising Power Soccer Invitational, where the team won one game, tied another and came up short on four others.
Still, coaches call the trip a success. They say the final scores aren’t as important as the playing time and comradery of these cross-country tournaments.
“It allows our team to come together and prepare for our national competition,” Kensey said.
“They are truly coming together — and they’re a young team,” coach Tom Gordon said. “Hopefully, in the next 3-4 years, they can continue to exceed expectations.”
The team won the Founder’s Conference Cup in 2023 and now competes at the President’s Conference Cup level. They will represent Minnesota at the national tournament in Indiana in June.
More on the team: Before being signed by Minnesota United in 2022, the athletes were part of Allina Health Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute’s power soccer team, nicknamed the Blizzards.
More on the sport: Power soccer is designed specifically for power wheelchair users who live with muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy and other physical disabilities. Athletes do not have to be wheelchair users to participate.
The game is usually played on a regulation basketball court. Two teams of four players in specially designed wheelchairs use a 13-inch ball in a game similar to traditional soccer.
“This is an international tournament,” coach Katie Kensy said. “It’s very exciting that we get to participate.”
Athletes, coaches, family and friends of the Loons traveled to sunny Arizona for the Phoenix Rising Power Soccer Invitational, where the team won one game, tied another and came up short on four others.
Still, coaches call the trip a success. They say the final scores aren’t as important as the playing time and comradery of these cross-country tournaments.
“It allows our team to come together and prepare for our national competition,” Kensey said.
“They are truly coming together — and they’re a young team,” coach Tom Gordon said. “Hopefully, in the next 3-4 years, they can continue to exceed expectations.”
The team won the Founder’s Conference Cup in 2023 and now competes at the President’s Conference Cup level. They will represent Minnesota at the national tournament in Indiana in June.
More on the team: Before being signed by Minnesota United in 2022, the athletes were part of Allina Health Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute’s power soccer team, nicknamed the Blizzards.
More on the sport: Power soccer is designed specifically for power wheelchair users who live with muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy and other physical disabilities. Athletes do not have to be wheelchair users to participate.
The game is usually played on a regulation basketball court. Two teams of four players in specially designed wheelchairs use a 13-inch ball in a game similar to traditional soccer.
Posted on February 06, 2025 in
Minnesota United FC
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