Soccer In Toronto 05.23.09

By Rocket Robin Soccer In Toronto

W-League Result
Saturday May 23rd, 2009

Final Score
Toronto Lady Lynx 1, London Gryphons 1

Venue
The Ontario Soccer Centre, Vaughan

Kickoff
7:30 pm

Highlights
23 min … Lady Lynx Giselle Mangal GOAL
LL Victoria Frederick rolls pass from 20 yards that has Mangal on left roll 15 yarder into right corner of net behind diving goalie Jenn Wolbert out 6 yards.

53 min … Gryphons Devon Beach GOAL
Gryphons Martina Pettenuzzo pushes ball up to Beach who on 1 on 2 break has ball deflect off defender and back to her and she gets 15 yard shot low and into left corner of net past goalie Justine Bernier.

Notes
Attendance was about 250 on this mild evening with it cooling off after it got dark in the second half.

These two teams had played an exhibition game on Thursday May 14th at The Varsity Centre which ended in a 1-0 win for the Lady Lynx in which they dominated. This game was closer but the still there were long patches in this game where the play was in the Gryphons end.

Lady Lynx Caroline Szwed had many chances in this game but most of her chances were shot high or wide of the net. Szwed was set up on a few drop passes by Tiffany Cameron. Bryana McCarthy came in as a sub for goal scorer Giselle Mangal at 64 minutes and was just as effective.

Gryphons Devon Beach was the offensive threat for the team. Melissa Smith was the other forward but had a leg brace so was always a step behind from getting to through balls. The coaching staff advised their team to play conservatively near the end of the game as if to preserve the tie. Their record last year was 3 wins, 9 losses and 2 ties. Goalie Jenn Wolbert must be considered the star of tonight’s game by making some key point black saves. Toronto’s was 11-2-1 last year.

Both teams only brought four subs for this game. Lady Lynx will have MVP Stefania Morra back after her exams are over at York University. 2007 MVP Adrienne Ruhe Lischke is expected back on the team as soon as she’s in game shape. The Lady Lynx need a player who can score and put games away.

I got here with only ten minutes to spare after the end of the Toronto FC game against New England in the downtown. Ninety minutes between games almost wasn’t long enough.

Next game for both teams is Wednesday May 27th in London when these two teams meet each other for the home opener of the Gryphons. The next Lady Lynx home game is Sunday May 31st at 4:00pm at the Oshawa Civic Centre when they play Rochester Ravens. They played them in their season opener in Rochester last week and won 4-0. Ottawa Fury and Laval Comets should once again be the toughest challenges for the Lady Lynx in the Great Lakes Division.