TORONTO LADY LYNX GAME REPORT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Lady Lynx Bounced From Playoffs
Laval drop Toronto 2-0 to eliminate Lady Lynx
Date: July 23, 2008
Venue: Centennial Park Stadium, Toronto, ON
Kick Off Time: 11:00 AM EDT
Final Score: Toronto 0 (0) Laval 2 (2)
Match Summary:
The Toronto Lady Lynx 2008 season came to a crashing halt this evening on the heels of a shocking 2-0 loss to the Laval Comets at Centennial Stadium in the Northern Division semi-finals. Laval now advances to the Central Conference Championships this weekend to face the host FC Indiana Lionesses in one semi-final, while the Ottawa Fury will tackle the Chicago Gaels in the other. The loss is the first-ever home playoff loss for the Lady Lynx, and marks the first time that the team will not advance to the conference championships in their four-year history.
The match opened slowly on a sloppy pitch, the result of the constant rainfall that has plagued Toronto over the past few days. Laval managed to master the conditions quickly though and took an early lead with a pair of nearly identical Andreanne Gagne first-half goals. The midfielder struck two free kicks from the top of the penalty area around the Lady Lynx wall and past Elise Kuhar-Pitters into the goal in the 8th and 40th minutes to give Laval a stunning 2-0 lead at intermission.
Toronto attempted to battle back in the second half, but could not establish a rhythm on the slick surface. Countless attacks were broken up by the rugged Comets defense, and other attacks were slowed by players losing their footing on the slippery pitch. The Lady Lynx were also unable to finish when they got close to the net, with Marie-Pier Bilodeau making a number of key saves in net to preserve the lead for Laval. The game became chippy as the Lady Lynx pressed late in the match for the equalizing goals, and both Allysha Chapman of Toronto and Laval captain Cindy were ejected following a goal-mouth scuffle late in the match. The match ended soon after, with Laval holding on for the 2-0 victory.
Final Score: Toronto 0 (0) Laval 2 (2) Lineups: Toronto: Kuhar-Pitters (Gumiela, 45), Beckles, Landry, Chapman, Bazi (Conley, 53), Afonso, Lagonia (Carreiro, 82), McCalla, Bernard (Donaldson, 63), Bisnott (Dimitrakopoulos, 67), Morra Laval: Bilodeau, Walsh, Robinson, Acton, Maramatsu, Scott, Mercier, Gagne, Busilacchi, Busque, Laverdiere Officials: Referee: Michael Izzo Referee’s Assistants: Afhshin Korkorian and Leo Monaco 4th Official: Simon Shirley Cautions: Toronto: 2 (Chapman, 40; Afonso, 66) Laval: 0 Ejections: Toronto: 1 (Chapman, 89’) Laval: 1 (Walsh, 89’) Shots: Toronto 7 Laval 9 Saves: Toronto 4 Laval 5 Fouls: Toronto 17 Laval 16 Offsides: Toronto 7 Laval 2 Corners: Toronto 4 Laval 2 Scorers: Toronto: Laval: 8’ Gagne 40’ Gagne
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
ROB IRWIN, MEDIA RELATIONS
416-251-4625 ext. 23
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