TORONTO LADY LYNX MEDIA RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PAIR OF LADY LYNX HEADING TO MEXICO FOR U-20 WC QUALIFYING Tuesday, January 10, 2006 (TORONTO, ON) - The on-field success of the inaugural 2005 Lady Lynx season is being recognized with a pair of Lady Lynx players selected to represent Canada at the upcoming U-20 World Cup Qualifying tournament in Mexico being held from January 18-27. The Candian line-up will be bolstered by the presence of Amanda Cicchini and Robin Rushton from the Toronto Lady Lynx. Both players missed significant time during the 2005 Lady Lynx season as a result of National Team Duty and injury but were exceptional in the playoffs helping the club make it to the Eastern Conference final while playing every minute of each playoff game. Amanda Cicchini appeared in 6 regular season games, as well as in all 3 playoff games during the 2005 Lady Lynx season earning 1 goal and 3 assists. Cicchini has made 13 appearances for the U-20 program scoring 1 goal, in addition to earning 4 caps with the Canadian Women's World Cup team. Robin Rushton who played in 8 regular season games, in addition to all 3 playoff games, was a defensive standout for the Lady Lynx while contributing an assist on the offensive side of things. Rushton has been a member of the National Training Centre Ontario Program for several years and this trip to Mexico will provide her with the first opportunity to earn a cap at the U-20 level. Amanda and Robin are also team-mates on the West Virginia University Soccer Team where they both started in all 19 of the Mountaineers matches helping the team to a 11-5-3 record and the second round of the NCAA tournament before bowing out to Penn State University and fellow Lady Lynx player Holly Lincoln. FIFA has recently changed the Women’s U-19 World Championship format to an U-20 tournament and as a result several Canadian "veterans" from the 2004 campaign, including Cicchini, are looking forward for the opportunity to make up for the disappointment of Thailand, where Canada lost 3-1 to China in the quarter-finals. Canada's keeper was red-carded and China was awarded a penalty in the opening minute.Canada played almost the entire game with only 10 players. CONCACAF (Confederation Of North Central American And Caribbean Association Football) qualifying matches will take place in Mexico later this month as follows: Group A Canada, Mexico (host), Panama, Trinidad & Tobago Group B El Salvador, Jamaica, Surinam, U.S.A. The winners and runners-up of each group qualify for the semi-finals. The two semi-final winners automatically qualify and the two semi-final losers play off to qualify for the third CONCACAF spot in the World Championships. The FIFA U-20 Women’s World Championships is being held in Russia from August 17th to September 3rd. Canada's schedule (local time) is as follows: Group A: Veracruz, MEXICO; Estadio Luis Pirata Fuentes January 18, 2006 CANADA – TRINIDAD & TOBAGO (12:00) January 20, 2006 PANAMA – CANADA (12:00) January 22, 2006 MEXICO – CANADA (15:00) January 25, 2006 Veracruz, MEXICO; Estadio Luis Pirata Fuentes SEMIFINALS * A1 – B2 (12:00) B1 – A2 (15:00) January 27, 2006 Veracruz, MEXICO; Estadio Luis Pirata Fuentes THIRD PLACE: SEMIFINAL LOSERS (12:00) FINAL: SEMIFINAL WINNERS (15:00) –30 – FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: MIKE LEBLANC - DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, TORONTO LYNX SOCCER CLUB 416-251-4625 ext. 23
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