July 28, 2005 W-League Playoff Toronto Lady Lynx vs Vermont Lady Voltage (from Toronto Star)
Jul. 28, 2005. 01:00 AM
Lady Lynx shut off Voltage in rout
Toronto club advances to semifinals
Vermont can't stop relentless attack
DONOVAN VINCENT
SPORTS REPORTER
The Toronto Inferno women's soccer team finished a lacklustre 3-11 last season.
Fast forward to this season, and the same club under new owners — and renamed the Toronto Lady Lynx — reversed that record to 11-3 and won its first playoff game last night with a 6-0 shelling of the Vermont Lady Voltage.
The win sends the Lady Lynx to this Saturday's United Soccer Leagues W-League eastern conference semifinals in Ottawa, where three other teams, including the Ottawa Fury Women, who earned a bye with a 13-1 record, will square off.
On a chilly night before an announced crowd of just over 1,500 at Centennial Park Stadium in Etobicoke, the Lady Lynx outshot their opponents 19-7.
The Toronto club poured it on in the second half, basically taking target practice on Vermont's net and scoring four goals.
Lady Lynx coach head coach Brett Mosen said afterward that he felt pretty sure his club would defeat Vermont.
"Before the game I said five (goals). The coaches and I had a pint (wager) on that one, and I was the closest,'' said Mosen told reporters afterward.
Lady Lynx forward Kimberly Warner who had a goal last night was thrilled with her team's performance.
"It's awesome we could get here, given what we've suffered through with players coming in and out of the team travelling with the (under-20 women's) national team. It's great,'' she said.
Toronto hit hard and often last night.
The Lady Lynx first got on the scoreboard about the 15-minute mark in the first half with midfielder Julia Ralph taking a corner that sailed past three Vermont defenders before landing near unmarked Toronto midfielder Catharine Marosszeky who found the back of the net.
The Lady Lynx struck again with 10 minutes left in the first frame with forward Deana Everrett charging into the goal area all alone, scoring as her shot was deflected by Vermont defender Amy Benson.
In the second half, the Lady Lynx ran away with the game.
Warner beat Vermont keeper Kristin Luckenbill after a feed from Everrett and minutes later speedy Toronto midfielder Heather MacDougall outfoxed Luckenbill.
Everrett scored again at the 80-minute mark after a mad scramble in front of Vermont's goal where Luckenbill leapt in the air for the loose ball, but couldn't haul it in.
To highlight Vermont's defensive woes, Lady Voltage defender Amy Benson was credited with an own goal after deflecting a shot by MacDougall into her own net.
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