USLsoccer: Toronto Unveils Roster
Toronto unveils opening day roster
TORONTO (April 19, 2002)
-- The Toronto Lynx unveiled their 2002 roster at their annual season-opening
press conference. The club is set to open its season tomorrow night on the road
against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.
"Our goal this year is to get back
to the playoffs", said Toronto head coach Peter Pinizzotto. "Looking at the team
we have assembled this year I think we have what it takes to compete. It won’t
be easy, especially with our first eight games on the road, but if we can come
away from that trip at close to .500 I think you’ll see a return to the playoffs
for the Lynx in 2002."
Pinizzotto then announced the 2002 Opening Day
roster, which features 17 players, 10 of which grew up in the Greater Toronto
Area.
Seven players were added to the club earlier in the week. Of those
seven, five are new players and two are returnees from last year’s squad.
Forward Irasto Knights, midfielder Nikola Budalic, goalkeeper Pedro Vieria,
midfielder/forward Elvis Thomas and midfielder Diego Santillana are the new
additions to the squad while All-Star defender Adrian Serioux and midfielder
Bobby Randhawa return to the club for the 2002 season.
A veteran of 44
A-League games, Knights, 25, spent last season with the Connecticut Wolves.
Knights has scored 33 points on 15 goals and 3 assists with the Wolves, Raleigh
Capital Express, and Long Island Rough Riders.
A native of Kitchener,
Ontario, Budalic played last season with Glen Shields of the Canadian
Professional Soccer League. The former James Madison University star signed an
amateur agreement for the 2002 season.
Vieria played last season with
the 777 Soccer Club of the Toronto Soccer Association, where he received the
TSA’s Best Goalkeeper Award. The 25-year-old will serve as the primary backup to
starter Theo Zagar.
Thomas, 29, who hails from Scarborough, Ontario,
played with the Lynx during their first two years of existence in 1997 and 1998.
He led the Lynx in scoring in 1997 with 17 points on 7 goals and 3 assists. Last
season, Thomas played for the Toronto Olympians of the CPSL, where he was the
club’s leading scorer.
Originally from Peru, Santillana, played midfield
last year in his home country for FBC Melgar. The twenty-year old has
international experience playing for the Under-15, 17 and 20 Peruvian National
Teams.
Serioux, 23, returns for his fourth season with the Lynx. The
Scarborough native’s best season came in 2000 when he was named the 2000 Lynx
Best Defensive Player and was also named to the 2000 A-League Second All-Star
Team.
Bobby Randhawa’s option was picked up for the 2002 season.
Randhawa, 23, appeared in 10 matches for the Lynx last season.
The Lynx
depart for Pittsburgh later today. Kickoff tomorrow is scheduled for 7:35 p.m.
2002 TORONTO LYNX OPENING DAY ROSTER
Goalkeepers: Pedro Vieira,
Theo Zagar
Defenders: Marco Reda (Captain), Mauricio Vincello, Joe
Mattacchione, Milan Kojic, Adrian Serioux
Midfielders: Shawn Faria,
Nikola Budalic, Brian Ashton, David Diplacido, Robbie Aristodemo, Nikola
Vignjevic, Diego Santillana, Bobby Randhawa
Forwards: Irasto Knights,
Elvis Thomas
.
.