St Catharines Standard: Wolves Bounced From League Cup
by Winnipeg Fury

Wolves bounced from League Cup

Draw with Hamilton not enough to advance
 
Jim Wallace, The Standard
St Catharines Standard


Tony Carbonara hasn't had this feeling in the 10 years he's been a member of the Club Roma Wolves -- and he doesn't like it one bit.

The Wolves captain was almost at a loss for words Wednesday after the team stumbled against the Hamilton Thunder, but still managed a 2-2 tie in their Canadian Professional Soccer League Cup competition.

The tie wasn't enough, however. The Thunder won the opening game of the two-game, total-goals series and advanced on a 4-2 aggregate.

Carbonara has watched the team play well one night and badly the next night. He's experienced slumps, winning streaks and losing streaks, but never a rebuilding season.

"There are excuses -- we've got some injuries, some guys playing in different spots -- but they're just excuses," he said. "I don't know if I can put my finger on it.

"This is my 10th year, and I've never been through what could be called a rebuilding year, so I've never experienced a big turnover of players. It's very frustrating."

After losing five players to the Thunder before the season started, two more didn't return and Gary Hughes failed to start the season. Add to that the fact Simon Gatti and goalkeeper Jay Mason have gone to the U.S. on soccer scholarships, and the Wolves have basically lost a whole team.

On the plus side, even though they didn't play well, the Wolves managed the tie when Carlo Arghittu scored about four minutes into injury time. Orlin Chalmers put the Thunder up 1-0 at the 11-minute mark and Frank Zumpano evened it at 59 minutes. Four minutes later, however, Grimsby native Mark Wagenaar gave Hamilton a 2-1 lead.

Notes: The Wolves were without Joe Carbonara, who missed his second game with an injury.... The Roma soccer association and Wellspring Niagara will hold a fundraising wine-tasting dinner for cancer research Sept. 13. Further information is available by calling 905-682-3291, 905-984-5697 or 905-937-7433.

THE SCOOP

Wolves 2 Thunder 2

Standard Star of the Game: Tony Carbonara with a solid defensive game.

For the Roma Wolves: Frank Zumpano (49 minutes), Carlo Arghittu (injury time).

For the Hamilton Thunder: Orlin Chalmers (11 minutes), Mark Wagenaar (53 minutes).

Attendance: 500.

No drinking from the cup: The Wolves were eliminated in the two-game, total-goals CPSL Cup competition 4-2 overall.

Up next: The Wolves are back in action Monday in Toronto against the North York Astros and home Wednesday to the Durham Flames.



© Copyright  2002 St Catharines Standard

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