May 30th, 2001.
Toronto Sun: Big, Bad Wolves Spoil it for Kids
by Winnipeg Fury
Big, bad Wolves spoil it for kids
By MIKE KOREEN -- Toronto
Sun
As hordes of children descended on to the field for autographs,
fatigued Toronto Lynx players tried to keep smiling.
It wasn't an easy task
on a day when the Lynx squandered a lead during the stretch run.
The
youngsters playing hooky from school watched the Connecticut Wolves escape with
a surprising 2-1 win over the Lynx in an A-League soccer game at Varsity
Stadium.
The 3-0-1 Wolves, the worst team in the 25-team league last season
(1-19-8), erased a 1-0 deficit in the 79th minute and scored the winner six
minutes later before a crowd of 4,211.
"The crowd came out to see us win and
we wanted to please the fans to encourage them to see another game," Lynx
defender Adrian Serioux said. "We had a win in our hands, but we let it slip
away."
It didn't take long for the crowd to make its presence felt.
The
noise emanating from the stands drowned out the middle school choir singing the
Star Spangled Banner. The first "go Lynx go" cheer started just before the
opening kickoff.
A high-pitched roar was heard after Lynx forward Kristian
Grzetic's crossing attempt deflected off a Wolves defender past goalie Adam
Throop in the 58th minute.
Most of the seats on Varsity Stadium's west side
were full yesterday -- a rarity for a Lynx home game.
Fewer than 600 fans
were in the stands Sunday -- though the announced crowd was 2,027 -- when the
Lynx lost 1-0 to the Rochester Raging Rhinos.
"It's two games in a row we've
outplayed a team and somehow found way to lose," Lynx general manager/coach
Peter Pinizzotto said. "It's unfortunate, because there was a nice crowd with
young kids (yesterday). We could have been celebrating instead of disappointed."
At least the fans saw a couple of highlight-reel goals.
The Wolves'
Fabio Zuniga beat a Lynx defender to a high ball and headed David Vaudreuil's
cross past goalie Theo Zagar to tie it 1-1.
Temoc Suarez scored the winner
with a brilliant free kick from the semi-circle. With a five-player wall in
front of him, Suarez curled his shot to the right. Zagar, who was screened,
didn't move until the ball was in the net.
"We almost never let in goals
that late," Lynx captain Marco Reda said. "It's tough to take."
The 1-2 Lynx
play host to the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Sunday at 4 p.m.
.
.