Toronto Lynx Game Report
Brought To You By
Brava
LYNX SETTLE THE SCORE
TORONTO DEFEATS ROCHESTER 2-0
TO SPLIT HOME AND HOME SERIES
Date: Sunday July
14, 2002
Venue: York University Stadium (Toronto)
Kick-off: 6:00
p.m.
Attendance: 1,293
Final Score: 1 2 F
Rochester
0 0 0
Toronto 1 1 2
Game Summary: Niki Budalic and Brian
Ashton each registered markers while Theo Zagar recorded his fourth shutout of
the season as the Toronto Lynx (5-9-3, 24 points) defeated the Northeast
Division leading Rochester Raging Rhinos (9-5-2, 38 points) 2-0 before 1,293
fans at York University Stadium. With the victory Toronto salvages a split in
their weekend home and home series with the Rhinos. Rochester won the first game
of the series last night by an identical 2-0 score.
Toronto opened the
scoring in the sixth minute of play as the club worked their transition defence
to perfection. After Nikki Vignjevic stripped a Rhinos midfielder of possession,
the Serbian native quickly passed the ball up the wing to Irasto Knights.
Knights then headed straight for the goal before wisely stopping, eluding his
defender, and finally crossing the ball over to Niki Budalic. Budalic then
controlled the pass and fired a screamer from 15 yards out to the top left
corner to give the Lynx the lead. Budalic's goal was his team leading eighth of
the season.
Unfortunately for the Lynx the Rhinos dominated the rest of
the half as the club had several excellent scoring opportunities but were unable
to connect on any of them.
In the 19th minute the Rhinos were threatening
in the Toronto zone when Rochester’s leading scorer Lenin Steenkamp took a
centering feed inside the 18-yard box and fired a shot that deflected off the
far post.
Rochester continued to keep pressuring the Lynx back four and
again hit the goal post in the 36th minute as forward Dan Stebbin’s header from
nine yards out rang off the iron. Despite Rochester's chances the Lynx were able
to hold onto their 1-0 lead heading into the second half.
After the
break Toronto began to wear down the Rhinos and the Lynx were able to add some
much needed insurance in the 77th minute when midfielder Brian Ashton scored his
first goal of the season on a penalty shot. With the Lynx buzzing in the Rhinos
zone, Toronto's shot on goal was stopped by the hand of midfielder Temoc Suarez
who was immediately issued a red card for his actions. The referee then awarded
a penalty shot to the Lynx. Ashton was elected to take the kick and he made no
mistake on a shot low, and to the right post, to give the Lynx a comfortable 2-0
advantage.
The Rhinos did not give up however and continually pressured
the Lynx in the final minutes of play. Goaltender Theo Zagar played arguably his
finest match of the season as he turned away a countless amount of Rochester
shots to preserve the shutout.
Scoring Summary
First
Half
6th Minute: After Nikki Vignjevic stripped a Rhinos midfielder of
the ball, the Serbian native quickly passed the up the wing to Irasto Knights.
Knights then headed straight for the goal before wisely stopping, eluding his
defender, and finally crossing the ball over to Niki Budalic. Budalic then
controlled the pass and fired a screamer from 15 yards out to the top left
corner to give the Lynx the lead. Toronto 1-0
Second Half
77th
Minute: Brian Ashton scores his first of the season on a penalty kick after
Rochester’s Temoc Suarez was sent off for stopping a Lynx strike with his hand.
Toronto 2-0
Full Time
Line ups
Rochester: (GK)
Scott Vallow, (D) Craig Demmin, (D) Scott Schweitzer, (D) Billy Sedgewick, (D)
Kalin Bankov (Mali Walton 68), (M) Tommy Tanner (Jamal Ballantyne 41), (M) Yuri
Lavrinenko (Jimmy Tanner 64), (M) Lenin Steenkamp, (M) Carlos Zavala (Temoc
Suarez 45), (F) Greg Simmonds, (F) Dan Stebbins (Martin Nash 45)
Toronto:
(GK) Theo Zagar, (D) Joe Mattacchione, (D) Milan Kojic, (D) Mauricio Vincello,
(D) Adrian Serioux, (M) Shawn Faria, (M) Nikki Vignjevic (Brian Ashton 72), (M)
David Diplacido, (M) Robbie Aristodemo (Elvis Thomas 81), (F) Irasto Knights
(Steve Butcher 63), (F) Niki Budalic
Shots 1 2 F
Rochester 7 6 13
Toronto 3 9 12
Saves 1 2
F
Rochester 1 3 4
Toronto 2 3
5
Scorers
Rochester: None
Toronto: Budalic 8
(Knights), 6th Minute
Ashton 1 (Penatly Kick) 78th
Minute
Goaltenders
Rochester: Vallow (L,
1-3-1)
Toronto: Zagar (W, 5-9-3) 4th shutout of the
season.
Corner Kicks 1 2 F
Rochester 0 5 5
Toronto
0 3 3
Fouls 1 2 F
Rochester 6 8 14
Toronto 4 8
12
Cautions
Rochester: Steenkamp (67th
Minute)
Toronto: Vincello (12th Minute), Mattacchione (46th Minute),
Faria (71st Minute)
Ejections
Rochester: Suarez (77th
Minute)
Toronto: None
Man of the Match:. Theo Zagar
(Toronto)--4 shutout of the season.
The Toronto Lynx next game is
at home against the Vancouver Whitecaps on Friday, July 19 at 6:30 p.m., York
University Stadium.
Toronto Lynx Media Relations Contact: Eric
Michalko (416) 251-4625, ext. 25
.
.