Toronto Lynx Game Report

LYNX KEEP HOUNDS ON SHORT LEASH

THIRD WIN IN A ROW MOVES TORONTO INTO THIRD PLACE IN NORTHEAST DIVISION





Date: Sunday June 23, 2002

Venue: Centennial Park Stadium

Attendance: 2,009



Final Score: 1 2 F

Pittsburgh 0 0 0

Toronto 0 2 2



Game Summary: The Toronto Lynx (4-7-1, 18 points) won their third game in a row this afternoon as the club defeated the Pittsburgh Riverhounds (3-10-4, 17) 2-0 on an extremely hot and muggy afternoon at Centennial Park Stadium. With the win, the Lynx move into third place in the Northeast Division and more importantly, to within five points of the idol Charlotte Eagles (5-7-1, 23 points) for the sixth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Today’s match was also the 150th in franchise history.

In the first half, Pittsburgh came out aggressively as Gary DePalma and Brian Johnson quickly picked up a pair of cautions in the eighth and 11th minute respectively. Despite the warnings from the officials, Pittsburgh did not change their aggressive style and it cost them in the 30th minute as defender Tim Shaydak received a red card for a hard tackle on Toronto forward Niki Budalic near the sideline.

Despite being reduced to ten men the Hounds did have the best scoring chance of the first half as Canadian Ali Ngon hit the crossbar with a free kick from 20 yards out.

In the second half, the Lynx took advantage of being up a man and thoroughly outworked Pittsburgh in the scorching temperatures.

Toronto opened the scoring in the 59th minute of play as Budalic scored his seventh of the season, and third in two games, as he took a Nikki Vignjevic feed in the box and slipped behind the Riverhounds defence. Budalic then fired the ball low and to the far corner, beating back-up keeper T.J Hanning.

The Lynx then added to their lead 11 minutes later as Vignjevic’s free kick from 20 yards out was partially stopped by a diving Hanning. However, Hanning couldn’t control the ball as he fell to the ground and the ball trickled loose, into the back of the net to give Toronto a comfortable 2-0 lead. The goal, Vignjevic’s first of the season, moved the Serbian native into first all-time in goals for the club with 23.

After Vignjevic’s marker, the Lynx had several another excellent scoring chances afterwards as the team tried to get a bonus point for the second straight match.

In the 64th minute Elvis Thomas was able to beat Hanning to the ball and side-stepped around him. With the keeper out of position, and defenders swarming Thomas, the midfielder tried to center the ball to newly acquired Steve Butcher, but his pass was just off and the goaltender was able to jump back and cover the loose ball.

Late in the half, Budalic was sent in on a partial breakaway but the team’s top goal scorer couldn’t beat Hanning, who came out to challenge the shot.

Finally in injury time, forward Irasto Knights, who was replaced by Butcher in the starting line-up today, fired a shot off the right post from inside the six-yard box.

Toronto will try to win four in a row for the first time since June of 2000 when the Lynx host the Montreal Impact (5-2-1, 22 points) Thursday at 7:30 p.m. on Grad Night.

Before the today’s match-up Centennial Park hosted the final day of the inaugural Toronto Lynx Cup Tournament. The following are the results from this afternoon’s championship games.

First Annual Toronto Lynx Cup Tournament Results

Championship Matches



Under-10

North Mississauga A 4, North Mississauga B 1



Under-11

Vaughan 5, Newmarket 1



Under-12

Dixie 4, Woodbridge 0



Under-13

Erin Mills 6, Etobicoke Youth 5 (Erin Mills Wins On Penalty Kicks)



Under-15

Hamilton Sparta 1, Weston White Eagles 0



Under-16

Burlington 2, Pickering 1



First Half Highlights

No Scoring



Second Half Highlights

59th Minute: Niki Budalic takes a feed inside the box from Nikki Vignjevic, sneaks by a Riverhounds defender and fires the ball low and to the far corner. Toronto 1-0

70th Minute: Vignjevic becomes the all-time leading goal scorer in Lynx history as his free kick from 20 yards out squeaks by T.J. Hanning. Toronto 2-0

Full Time



Line ups

Pittsburgh: (GK) T.J. Hanning, (D) Tim Shaydak, (D) Michael Green, (D) Jaman Tripoli, (D) Matt Chulis, (M) Mario Gori, (M) Brian Johnson, (M) Derek Potteiger, (M) Gary DePalma, (F) David Flavius, (F) Ali Ngon

Toronto: (GK) Theo Zagar, (D) Mauricio Vincello, (D) Matt Rosenfeld, (D) Joe Mattacchione, (M) Brian Ashton, (M) Elvis Thomas, (M) Shawn Faria, (M) Nikki Vignjevic, (F) Steve Butcher, (F) Niki Budalic



Scorers

Pittsburgh:

Toronto: Budalic 7 (Vignjevic) 59th Minute

Vignjevic 1 (Unassisted) 70th Minute



Shots 1 2 F

Pittsburgh 10 6 16

Toronto 5 13 18



Saves 1 2 F

Pittsburgh 2 4 6

Toronto 3 1 4



Goaltenders

Pittsburgh: Hanning (L, 0-4-1)

Toronto: Zagar (W, 4-7-1) First shutout of the season.



Corner Kicks 1 2 F

Pittsburgh 1 0 1

Toronto 1 2 3



Fouls 1 2 F

Pittsburgh 4 8 12

Toronto 7 3 10



Cautions

Pittsburgh: DePalma (8), Chulis (11), Green (87)
Toronto: Ashton (54), Mattacchione (77)



Ejections

Pittsburgh: Sahayak (30)

Toronto: None



Man of the Match: Nikki Vignjevic (Toronto) 1 goal and 1 assist.

The Toronto Lynx next game is at home against the Montreal Impact on Thursday, June 27 at 7:30 p.m.

Toronto Lynx Media Relations Contact: Eric Michalko (416) 251-4625, ext. 25

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