Date: Monday, May 24, 2004

INFERNO SNUFFED OUT IN SEASON OPENER

(LACHINE, QUEBEC) Despite a strong performance overall, the Toronto Inferno became the first victims of the new Montreal Xtreme in W-League play at Montreal’s Catalogna Soccerplexe on Sunday. Josée Bélanger scored twice as the Xtreme defeated the Inferno 4-1before 1,634 spectators in the Quebec team’s inaugural match. It was the first time the Inferno had taken to the field for the 2004 season as well.

The Xtreme give the W-League a presence in Quebec for the first time since 2001. The Laval Dynamites provided Quebec soccer fans with W-League action from 1999-2001.

Sunday afternoon’s match started off well for the Xtreme as they were awarded a penalty kick in only the third minute. Amy Walsh, a Montreal native who has played for the Canadian national women’s team on 56 occasions, made no mistake as she fired the ball home in her home province past Inferno keeper Annie Witco.

The Xtreme added their second goal of the first half as Véronique Maranda ran down the left flank and received a diagonal pass about 14 yards out from the Inferno goal. From there she hit a low ball that beat Witco to her left.

Hoping to get off to a good start in the second half, Toronto found themselves down 3-0 only two minutes in as Bélanger scored after receiving a cross from the left wing.

Bélanger would add her second of the game in the 70th minute as she beat Witco from just inside the 18-yard box.

“Even though she allowed four goals, Annie also made some great saves and communicated well with her defenders,” said Toronto Inferno head coach Tom McManus.

“She didn’t even have a chance on Walsh’s penalty kick.”

Witco kept the Xtreme’s goal total at four by making 11 saves.

Inferno rookie Kate Bazos of London, Ontario ruined Karina Leblanc’s bid for a shutout as the Toronto midfielder chipped a ball over the head of Leblanc.

“Offensively, we had our share of chances in the first and second halves,” added McManus.

“For example, we could have easily only been down 2-1 at the end of 45 minutes.”

The Inferno’s second match of the 2004 season will be their HOME OPENER, scheduled for Saturday, May 29 against the South Jersey Banshees at the Ontario Soccer Centre, 7601 Martin Grove Road, Vaughan. The Ontario Soccer >Centre is located on the east side of Martin Grove Road between Steeles Avenue and Highway 7. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

“We’ll definitely concentrate on playing possession soccer against the Banshees and based on the Xtreme game, we have to tighten up our defence,” added McManus.

About the Toronto Inferno

The Toronto Inferno Soccer Club, founded in 1997, is the original Canadian W-League franchise. The league now counts seven Canadian franchises amongst its 37 member teams. The other 31 teams are located within the 48 contiguous states. More information about the league can be accessed at wleague.uslsoccer.com.

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For more information on the Inferno, please call 905-294-6199, e-mail us at inferno@torontoinferno.com, or visit our official Web site, www.torontoinferno.com.

Source:

Glenn Sutherland
Media Relations
Toronto Inferno Soccer Club,
gsutherland@torontoinferno.com

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