Toronto Lady Lynx Snap Losing Streak

Lady Lynx Dim Flash
Total team effort results in 3-1 victory

Orhard Park, NY (June 14, 2009) — Bryanna McCarthy’s two goals helped the Lady Lynx snap their two-game losing streak with a wildly entertaining 3-1 victory on the road over the expansion Buffalo Flash. Erica Henderson rounded out the scoring for the Lady Lynx, who see their record jump to 3-2-2 (11 points) on the season, and past Buffalo back into third place in the Great Lakes Division of the W-League. The Flash posted their second loss in a row and fall to 3-2-0 (9 points) on the year.

The Lady Lynx once again got off to their traditional torrid start, opening the scoring in the 3rd minute. Victoria Frederick battled through traffic at the top of the penalty area, turned and fed McCarthy just inside the six-yard box. Flash goalie Amanda Becker got her hand on the rookie’s ensuing shot but could not stop it, and it trickled over the line to put Toronto up 1-0.

Toronto doubled their lead twenty-three minutes later on Henderson’s first goal of the season. The W-League veteran headed home McCarthy’s corner kick past a helpless Becker in the 26th minute for a 2-0 lead, stunning their hosts.

The Flash rebounded instantly though, cutting the deficit in half one minute later. Maria Ruiz slammed home an Alex Sahlen pass for her fifth of the year, and Buffalo was back in the match. The teams traded chances back and forth for the remainder of the period, but the defences held and the teams went into the break with the Lady Lynx ahead 2-1.

Buffalo pressed forward following the intermission, but were constantly rebuffed by the Lady Lynx. Justine Bernier made numerous key saves and preserved the Toronto lead as the second half progressed. The young Lady Lynx began to take back control of the match in the final third of the period, and were able to create a number of scoring chances in their effort to extend their lead.

The team’s tenacity was rewarded in the 87th minute when McCarthy iced the match with her second of the afternoon. The Ajax native forced a turnover off of Kimberly Brandao of the Flash, and calmly blasted a right foot rocket into the netting for her fourth score of the season and a 3-1 Lady Lynx lead. Buffalo pressed to get back into the match in the final three minutes, but Bernier again came up with a number of quality stops to sew up the victory for the Lady Lynx. Coach Danny Stewart credited a total team effort by his squad to earn the club’s third win of the year.

The Lady Lynx head to Hamilton on Wednesday evening for a 7:30 match against the Lady Avalanche to wrap up their four-game road swing. They then return home on Sunday afternoon, June 21, at 4:00 PM for a highly anticipated rematch against the Flash at Centennial Park Stadium. Tickets for the match may be purchased by calling the Lynx ticket hotline at 416-251-4625 x 31, or at the Centennial Park Stadium box office one hour prior to kickoff.

Toronto Lineup
Bernier, Marton, Rustad, Chapman, Afonso (Conley, 81), MacDonald, Szwed, Henderson (Ruhe-Lischke, 68), Mangal (Cameron, 60), McCarthy (Schroter, 89), Frederick

Buffalo Lineup
Becker, Brandao, Sahlen, Tarr, Mosebo (Lawrence, 89), Wagenfuhr, Tantillo (O’Rourke, 45), Sutton (Barbuto, 45), Abdullah (Lacek, 83), Desavario (Craft, 74), Ruiz

Cautions
Buffalo: 2 (Desavario, 23; Mosebo, 79)

GAME STATS Toronto-Buffalo
Shots: 11-12
Saves: 8-8
Fouls: 5-11
Offsides: 4-2
Corners: 3-5

Scorers
Toronto
3’ … McCarthy (Frederick)
26’ … Henderson (McCarthy)
87’ … McCarthy

Buffalo
27’ … Ruiz (Sahlen)