Date: July 28, 2003
Attention: Sports Editors/Assignment Editors/General Sportswriters/ Soccer Journalists/Other Parties
NEW JERSEY LADY STALLIONS RIDE MATHELIER'S TWO GOALS TO VICTORY
(TORONTO, ONTARIO) - Dominque Esposito scored the eventual game winner but Tatiana Mathelier provided two insurance policies as the New Jersey Lady Stallions shut out the Toronto Inferno 3-0 in W-League soccer action Sunday afternoon at Toronto's Birchmount Stadium.
Esposito opened the scoring 17 minutes into the match off a feed from Nicole Krzysik.
Mathelier scored the first of her two goals, in the 38th minute, on a solo effort off an Inferno giveaway.
That would be all the scoring until the 66th minute when Mathelier fired a beautiful shot from about 25 yards from the left flank that landed in the top right-hand corner of the Inferno net behind Annie Witco.
Kristin Walker made six saves in the Lady Stallions' goal to record her second shutout of the season.
"The game was a microcosm of our season. We played well in spurts and could not finish," said Inferno head coach Tony Marmo.
"Then at crucial times we make a mistake and the opponents make us pay for it."
With the defeat, the Inferno finish their 2003 campaign with a record of six wins, seven losses and one tie for third place in the Northern Division, one position out of a playoff spot.
"It was a disappointing season as we started with so much promise and my belief that, on paper, this was the most talented team in the history of the Inferno. Unfortunately, the results don't bear it," added Marmo.
"Having said that, we were not very far away from where we want to be. We were in every game and if mistakes could have been eliminated, we're in the playoffs. Our young players gained a lot of valuable experience both on and off the field."
Meanwhile, the New Jersey Lady Stallions have captured the Northeast Division championship by virtue of an 11 win, three losses and no tie record for 33 points. They will host the Long Island Lady Riders in a single knockout playoff match on Wednesday, July 30.
Toronto Inferno starting line-up and substitutions
Annie Witco, Robyn Gayle (Jennifer Williams, 67), Holly Lincoln, Kanisha Campbell (Keisha Garrick, 45), Robyn Brady, Stacey Janetos (Chichi May, 43), Diana Matheson, Marisa Kovacs, Melanie Booth (Sabine Goldberg, 70), Kim Warner, Cristina Bonasia
New Jersey Lady Stallions line-up and substitutions
Kristin Walker, Whitney Dula, Nadine Ruddock, Dawn Dickten, Kathleen Sinram (Lizzie Reed, 58), Sarah Dwyer, Sue Flamini, Nicole Krzysik (Sara Allen, 75), Dominique Esposito, Tatiana Mathelier (Marisa Suarez, 72), Lauren Pachucki
.
.