August 31, 2002
Lynx come up empty
By MIKE KOREEN --
Toronto Sun
When a soccer team fails to score a goal in 110 minutes, it
does not deserve to make the playoffs.
With their season on the line,
the Toronto Lynx couldn't find a way to put a ball into the Atlanta Silverbacks
net last night at Etobicoke Centennial Stadium.
The 0-0 tie in Toronto's
A-League season finale, combined with the Charlotte Eagles' 3-1 win over the
host Rochester Raging Rhinos last night, pushed Charlotte ahead of the Lynx into
the sixth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
The Lynx
(10-13-5) would have made the playoffs with a win over Atlanta. Toronto also
would have slipped through the back door into the playoffs if Charlotte had lost
or tied against Rochester.
"This is very, very disappointing," said Lynx
general manager/coach Peter Pinizzotto, whose team will miss the playoffs for
the second year in a row. "We were in the driver's seat. We just needed a win at
home and we couldn't get it."
After the game, Lynx players barely moved.
As 2,143 fans exited the stadium, forward Niki Budalic stood on the field with
his hands on his hips, while fellow forward Ryan Lucas sat on the bench with his
hands covering his bowed head.
"This is really bad," Lucas said. "I
don't know what to say."
Knowing the Eagles were in control against
Rochester, the Lynx poured it on in the final 15 minutes of regulation and the
two 10-minute sudden-death overtime periods.
In the 75th minute, Budalic
had a shot from in close stopped by Silverbacks goalie Jeff Cassar. Seconds
later, Lynx midfielder Nikki Vignjevic fired high from the penalty area. In the
final minute of sudden death, Cassar made another tough save on Budalic.
Earlier in the game, the Lynx lacked flow on offence, registering few
chances in the first 60 minutes.
"We didn't come out really wanting to
win," said Lucas, whose team started the season with a 1-7-1 record before
rallying down the stretch. "We were really flat."
The A-League playoffs
begin next weekend.
.
.