Mirror-Guardian: Astros Weather Ups and Downs
by Winnipeg
Fury
Astros weather ups
and downs of 2001 season
By SAM
LASKARIS Special to The Mirror
Another North York Astros season
officially ended when the local Canadian Professional Soccer League (CPSL) squad
dropped its 2001 season finale 3-2 to the Mississauga-based Toronto
Croatia.
The Astros ended up with a 7-12-3 record and placed ninth in the
12-team league. Only the top four finishers and the host St. Catharines Wolves
though are participating in the league's playoff tournament this
weekend.
North York ended its season on a three-game losing streak
dropping all three of those matches by one goal each.
"That's what is
upsetting to me," Bruno Ierullo, Astros general manager, said of the club's play
down the stretch. "We could have ended up in sixth place very
comfortably."
The Astros did improve considerably this season. A year ago
North York won just three of its 14 games in the then eight-team
CPSL.
The club also had its share of struggles this year. Coach Tony
Laferrara was released in mid-season. Sam Medeiros, who was the Astros assistant
coach, took over the head coaching duties.
"We've improved 100 per cent,"
Medeiros said. "If you compare us to last year's team, you would say we are
champions. Last year we were losing to the Olympians (perennial league power
Toronto Olympians) 6-1 and 5-0. This year we lost 2-1 and 1-0 to
them."
After Medeiros took over the head coaching post, the Astros
started to show they were building for the future.
He began playing five
prospects who were either 18 or 19 years old.
"That's what we're hoping
to do," Medeiros said of the club's desire to build through youth.
But
there's already some question marks surrounding the team's
future.
Medeiros said Ierullo told him Thursday that he'd be brought back
as head coach next year.
"I'm still the coach unless he got up on the
wrong side of the bed today," Medeiros said.
But Ierullo refused to say
whether Medeiros would still be in charge. He said Medeiros would still be with
the club next season but he didn't know for certain if it will be as the head
coach.
"If we make any changes, we'll let you know," Ierullo said.
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