TORONTO INFERNO SOCCER CLUB PRESS RELEASE - JULY 27, 2002

INFERNO INTENTIONS BACKFIRE AGAINST BOSTON
By Glenn Sutherland

TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA - Going into last night’s match against the Boston Renegades,
the Toronto Inferno Soccer Club were intending to snap a three-game regular season and
playoff losing streak against their Northern Division rivals in W-League play.  A win by the
Inferno would not only get a monkey off their collective backs but also serve as a
psychological edge heading into next week’s single elimination divisional playoff match
against the Renegades in Massachusetts.

Unfortunately for the Inferno and their fans, the Renegades scored twice in the first half
and once in the second en route to a 3-1 victory.  

Meghan Moore started the scoring in the 21st minute, followed by Sarah Rahko in the 34th
minute off a set piece.

Both teams continued to have excellent chances at either end, with Toronto’s Leisha Alcia and
Boston’s Meghan Frey coming up with solid saves.

There was no more scoring until the 63rd minute, when Boston’s Rebekah Splane connected for
the Northern Division champs.  

Toronto finally got on the board, albeit in injury time, as Tina Blaskovic scored her eighth
and final 2002 regular season goal on a penalty kick.  Toronto forward Heather Gallacher was
actually the fouled Inferno player but she suffered an injury as a result, which prevented
her from being one of Head Coach Tony Marmo’s choices for the penalty kick.  However, having
the 2001 W-League’s leading goal scorer and Most Valuable Player in Tina Blaskovic on the field
certainly helped in the decision making process.  Blaskovic fired a waist-high shot past Frey’s
right side to provide some consolation for the Inferno and their fans.

"We made three mistakes that led to their three goals.  You can’t make errors against a
quality team like Boston because they (mistakes) will come back to hurt you," said Marmo.

The two teams will have almost a week to rest and train before they meet at Bowditch Stadium
in Framingham, Massachusetts on August 2nd in their sudden-death playoff match.  Kick-off 
is set for 7:30 p.m.  The winner of that match will go on to face the victor between the Long
Island Lady Riders and an opponent to be determined.  

"If we eliminate mistakes at crucial times and in crucial areas of the field, we can get a
better result (against Boston)," remarked Marmo.

One hi-lite of Friday evening’s proceedings was a presentation to Ian McClurg, Club Head Coach
of the Burlington Youth Soccer Association.  McClurg accepted an Umbro Microfiber ball
(official match ball of the United Soccer Leagues) autographed by members of the Toronto
Inferno on behalf of the B.Y.S.A. for their work in helping make arrangements for the team
to play their first five home games at Burlington’s Sherwood Forest.  Scarborough’s Birchmount 
Stadium, the Inferno’s regular home ground, was unavailable for most of the season due to
 various reasons.  Thus, an alternative playing ground meeting W-League requirements was needed
and the Toronto Inferno are grateful for the Burlington Youth Soccer Association’s assistance.

For more information on the Toronto Inferno, please call (905) 294-6199, log on to our
Web site at www.torontoinferno.com , or e-mail us at 
inferno@torontoinferno.com.

Glenn Sutherland
Media Relations Assistant and Public Address Announcer
Toronto Inferno Soccer Club

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