For Immediate Release

Sunday, June 13, 2004

Attention: Sports Editors, Assignment Editors, Soccer Journalists, General Sportswriters, Sportscasters and other parties

RIDERS CHARGE AT RIGHT TIME AS INFERNO DROP FIFTH MATCH

The similarities are eerie.

While the French national football team was coming from behind to defeat their English counterparts 2-1 in Euro 2004 play at Lisbon, Portugal, the Long Island Lady Riders were doing the same to the Toronto Inferno in W-League action at North York, Ontario.

Both winning teams also relied on penalty kick goals to amount for half of their total output.

Both losing teams were dealt cruel hands.

In the match played on Canadian soil, Toronto forward Heather Gallacher knocked down a ball in the Lady Riders’ 18-yard box and moved it forward to her frontline counterpart Naomi Eguchi. The rookie forward found herself practically point-blank with Lady Riders’ goalkeeper Meghan Frey but fired the ball above the veteran’s outstretched hands.

That first goal came at the 71st minute mark but Toronto’s lead only held for about six minutes.

Long Island defender Francesca DeCristoforo was called upon to take a penalty kick in the 77th minutes after a Toronto foul and blasted a shot cleanly past Inferno goalkeeper Anne Ogundele.

Only about two minutes later, an Inferno giveaway just outside of their 18-yard box resulted in Lady Riders’ midfielder Allison Mullen having a clear path to the net. Ogundele made herself as wide as possible to cut down the angle but Mullen slid the ball under the outstretched Inferno keeper’s right leg.

“It turned out to be a costly giveaway,” said Inferno General Manager Tony Marmo.

“However, Anne did all she could to try and prevent the goal.”

Coach Tom McManus felt Ogundele had a solid outing.

”Anne had a good game today and made some excellent saves,” remarked McManus.

“She still needs to work on her total game but it will come.”

For the Inferno, the defeat marks their fifth loss against no wins in 2004 and also the fifth time they’ve managed only one goal in a match.

“It’s frustrating because our players are getting a lot of chances,” added Marmo.

“However I think there’s just a lack of confidence when it comes to finishing.”

Coach Tom McManus feels that his players need to be better prepared when scoring chances occur.

“Our strikers are not always ready to shoot when the balls arrive and in turn, it takes them too long to get their shots off,” observes McManus.

Long Island now sits alone in second place of the Northeast Division with a record of five wins against just one loss and only three points behind the 6-0 New Jersey Wildcats.

Next action for the Inferno is on Saturday, June 19 at Vaughan’s Ontario Soccer Centre when they host their North Central Division rivals, the Rochester Ravens. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.

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 America’s 48 contiguous states. W-League news, schedules, scores, standings, rosters, etc. can be accessed at wleague.uslsoccer.com.

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

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Contact:
Glenn Sutherland
Media Relations and Public Address Announcing
Toronto Inferno Soccer Club
E-mail: torontoinfernopr@hotmail.com
Home phone: 416-282-9241

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