Snowligan

I know Ive not been at it again for long this season but I have been offered the opportunity to report for E Pluribus Loonum , the SB Nation blog for Minnesota United FC - who have followed 55.1 into covering as much amateur turf as they can too. I'm not ruling out posting stuff here, but the tone will change. See you at the Loonum.

On Sunday, the radioactive bees will travel from the Red River Valley to the banks of the mighty Missouri to open the 2018 season as the opponents for the University of Mary in Bismarck, as the Division 2 Marauders (same conference as our own MSUM) close their "Spring" (just look outside!) games. Ironically, U-Mary's other Spring game was against Tommy Nienhaus's Jimmies. Honestly, I don't expect a swarm, at least in part because today was the first this has been mentioned. I thought the season debut would have been in the Open Cup in Duluth. Looking at the Marauders roster, there are a few local Bismarck lads but none from closer to us. If you want to pop down and see it, the details are as follows: MDU Resources Community Bowl (on the campus of Bismarck State College) Community Bowl 1715 Edwards Ave, Bismarck, ND 58501 1pm kickoff on Sunday Nuclear Bees have a 200 mile, 3 hour trip straight down the I-94 . Enjoy if you are part of the swarm.

The city of Moorhead is proudly Minnesotan and my home for over two years. It's also a key piece of this North of Normal metropolitan area, anchored by the famous (or notorious, thanks to the Coen brothers - who actually grew up in Brainerd) city of Fargo. As a club, Dakota Fusion grew out of the philanthropic desires of NTSI owner Sajid Ghauri. To quote the club's website, "For last five years Sajid Ghauri and his company NTSI were providing opportunities to young adult players, eighteen and over, by sending them to different tournaments and funding their expenses" NTSI, and thus Fusion, have their HQ in the Manchester Office Building (appropriately enough for a soccer club, as any Manc will tell you) and that is in Fargo and thus North Dakota. The club has yet to play a game in North Dakota, and I do not know if Sajid applied to US Soccer to host on May 9th. It is unfortunate, but the club needs to survive and Moorhead have provided a steady base for both Fusion ...