September 7, 2006 USL Montreal Impact vs Toronto Lynx pre-game story (from Impact website)
PRE-GAME REPORT: September 7, 2006
THE IMPACT COULD CLINCH REGULAR SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP AND VOYAGEURS CUP FRIDAY
Goalkeeper Greg Sutton has registered eight shutouts so far this season.MONTREAL ? The Montreal Impact (14-5-8) is playing, in front of a sell out crowd, its 28th and last game of the regular season, Friday, as the Toronto Lynx (7-12-7) will be the visitors at Claude-Robillard Sports Complex (7:30 pm, CJAD 800, Sport Plus XM-172).
With a win, the Impact would earn its fifth regular-season title and would win the Voyageurs Cup for a fifth straight year, a title awarded by the fans around the league to the top Canadian team in the USL D1.
THE GAME AT A GLANCE
- The Impact is still in first place in USL D1 standings with 50 points, four points ahead of the Rochester Raging Rhinos, which have one more game to play.
- In Montreal's last game, on August 31, a goal by midfielder Leonardo Di Lorenzo (88th) gave the Impact a 1-0 win over the Portland Timbers, at PGE Park. With the win, Montreal clinched at least second place in the standings and earned a bye into the semi-final round.
- In the last game between the two teams, the Impact and the Lynx played to a 1-1 tie, on August 23, at Centennial Stadium, in Toronto, even with the fact that the Impact played with a man advantage for the last 60 minutes of the game.
- The Impact has not lost against the Lynx this season (2-0-1).
- Since 1993, the year Toronto joined the league (Lynx, Rockets and Blizzard), the Impact has a lifetime record of 26-12-5 against its Ontario rivals.
- The Impact has not lost in its last 10 games against the Lynx (7-0-3) and is leading 15-4 in goals since the beginning of this stretch.
- This is the fourth and last match-up between the two teams this year. The Impact has not lost in the first three games (2-0-1).
THE OPPONENT
- The Toronto Lynx have done well lately and have recently climbed up to 10th place in USL D1 standings with 28 points.
- Toronto has not lost in its last five games (2-0-3) and has a 7-3-5 record in its last 15 games.
- The Lynx, however, have won only one game on the road so far this season (1-9-3).
- Last year, the Ontario team ended the season last in the standings (3-17-8).
PRE-GAMES COMMENTS
HEAD COACH NICK DE SANTIS
°We are in very good position to pick up the regular-season title. We want to conclude the season at home on a good note. Some players wonĄŻt be there so it will give us the chance to try new combinations in preparation for the playoffs. On their side, the Lynx have less pressure and the team has been doing well lately. WeĄŻll have to be careful, Friday, and look to dictate the pace of the game.
DEFENDER LARS LYSSAND
°It's a very important game for us. The team confidence is high following our last two wins. We had a good week of preparation and we are ready for this game. We will have two weeks off before the playoffs start, so we want to put in a sharp performance and get a win. We sure donĄŻt want to give Rochester a chance to take first place away from us.
FORWARD MAURICIO SALLES
°We need the win to clinch first place. We are prepared for a tough game. They are a dangerous team and no game against them this season has been easy. We would like to score goals before going into the playoffs to increase our confidence in front of the net. All the work we have done this season could lead us to a concrete result at the end of Friday's game.
OUT OF THE LINE-UP
Team - Player (Position) - Reason - Status
MTL - Antonio Ribeiro (M) - Groin injury - Could be back Friday
MTL - Gabriel Gervais (D) - Light calf injury - Could miss Friday's game
MTL - Joel Bailey (A) - Light heel injury - Could miss Friday's game
MTL - Ze Roberto (M) - Fractured right tibia August 25 vs VB - Out for the season
MTL - Jason Di Tullio (D) - Knee injury July 21 @ MIN - Out for the season
MTL - Kirk Wilson (M) - Out for personal reasons
NEXT GAMES
Friday September 22 - Semi-final - Game #1 - To be determined
Sunday September 24 - Semi-final - Game #2 - To be determined
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Source: Patrick Vallee, Montreal Impact
Info: 514-328-3668, ext. 27
Montreal Impact
8770 boul. Langelier, suite 224
Montreal (Quebec) H1P 3C6
T: (514) 328-3668 | F:(514) 328-1287
E:info@impactmontreal.com
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