TORONTO LYNX MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LYNX JUNIORS U17 BOYS FALL JUST SHORT
TUESDAY NOVEMBER 20, 2007 (TORONTO, ON) The Toronto Lynx Juniors U17 Boys fell 3-1 in extra time to Midwest Division rivals Chicago Magic this morning in the 2007 Super-Y League North American Final. The loss ended the Lynx’ impressive undefeated run at the tournament, which saw 160 teams from around North America assemble in Tampa, Florida to crown the Super-Y League champions in 10 divisions. The Lynx were the lone Canadian team to reach the finals in any of the divisions.
The Lynx, playing their fifth match in five days, controlled the play and the pace of the match throughout the first half and took the lead early in the half. Adrian Sikorski split the Magic defense with an outstanding move in the tenth minute and fed the ball into the left side of the penalty area, where Mackenzie Wilde struck it firmly and curled it home past the hapless ‘keeper. The Lynx continued to press, but were unable to extend their lead.
The team continued to press in the second half, taking the play to Chicago. The Magic, in return, were happy to play the long ball and try to take advantage on the counter-attack of the aggressive Lynx play. Defenders Konner McNamara and Derek Rocha headed clear ball after ball, protecting the Toronto advantage. Late in the half, however, the defense was unable to clear a wide-side free kick and the Magic were able to score and even the match, sending it into extra time.
The Lynx pressed early in the overtime to try and win the match, employing an attacking 3-5-2 formation. Sherif El-Masri eluded four Magic defenders on a dazzling run down the left side, and threaded a perfect cross into Wilde, just outside the six-yard box. His on-target stinging volley, however, was somehow saved by a diving Magic keeper, and the Lynx were denied. Minutes later, Chicago quickly counter-attacked after a Toronto free-kick, creating a breakaway goal to take the lead at 2-1. A late penalty awarded to the Magic made the score 3-1, where it ended minutes later.
Head Coach Duncan Wilde was tremendously proud of the effort of his charges after the match. “We played hard and were unlucky not to score on a number of occasions. The boys can hold their head high knowing how close they came, and that they leave the tournament as the second-best U17 Boys team in North America. They never gave up during the entire game, and all week for that matter, and they made our club, along with all of Toronto, Ontario and Canada extremely proud with their play and their effort. We have 9 boys returning next year and we fully expect that we’ll back here in Tampa to compete once again for our first title.”
The team returns to Toronto on Wednesday afternoon to continue prepping for the 2007 Fall Showcase season, which has already saw the Lynx claim the prestigious Columbus Cup and an undefeated performance at the Wallkill College Showcase.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
DUNCAN WILDE
TORONTO LYNX SOCCER CLUB HEAD COACH
PREMIER SOCCER ACADEMY DIRECTOR
416-939-2539
dwilde@lynxsoccer.com
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