Lynx & Rochester Meet in Home-and-Home Series

 

Wednesday, August 10, 2005 (TORONTO, ON) - The Toronto Lynx and Rochester Raging Rhinos will meet in a home-and-home series this weekend begining on Friday, August 12th at 7:35pm at Frontier Field in Rochester, available via webcast at www.rhinossoccer.com, before returning to Toronto on Sunday, August 14th at 6pm at Centennial Park Stadium in Etobicoke for the Lynx annual Emergency Services Night.

 

The Lynx have had two-weeks off following a hard-fought 0-0 draw with the Richmond Kickers on Sunday, July 31st and are entering their final month of the 2005 campaign. Between August 12th and September 11th, the Lynx will play 6 home matches and 3 road matches to conclude their ninth season in the USL First Division. The draw versus Richmond stopped a 3-game losing streak for the Lynx and raised their record to 3-11-6 on the season. With 9 matches to play, the Lynx trail the Puerto Rico Islanders and Charleston Battery for the sixth and final playoff spot by 10 points. Head Coach, Hubert Busby Jr.'s roster showed signs of coming together in the month of July, earning a 2-3-1 record, including their first two-game win streak of the year.

 

After a slow start to the season, the Rochester Raging Rhinos have reclaimed their usual spot amongst the leaders in the USL First Division. After starting the season with a 1-4-1 record under new Head Coach, Laurie Calloway, the Rhinos have caught fire going 10-2-3 since May 31st, a streak that began with a 5-3 victory over the Lynx in Toronto. No one on the Rhinos roster has been hotter this season than midfielder, Kirk Wilson. Wilson, a veteran of 8 USL First Division seasons, is enjoying a standout season with 8 goals and 4 assists for 20 points 17 games, third most in the league. Former, Colorado Rapids (MLS) goalkeeper, Scott Vallow, has also enjoyed a solid first year in the USL First Division. He is currently tied for the league lead with 10 wins and ranks in the top 3 with 7 shutouts and a 0.842 goals against average. 

 

LYNX INTERACTIVE SOCCER ZONE AT C.N.E.

 

The Toronto Lynx players will once again be making appearances at the 127th Canadian National Exhibition on Friday, August 19th and Friday, August 26th from 10am-8pm. For the 8th consecutive season, the Lynx will be on hand at the C.N.E., largest annual fair in Canada with an average attendance of 1.4 million visitors annual.  This year, the Lynx will be a part of the interactive soccer area in the Better Living Centre at Exhibition Place on the C.N.E. grounds. The area will include a skills zone where young players can show their talent in challenges which include a slalom course, juggling station and target shooting competition. Lynx players will be available to provide instruction, sign autographs and give away great prizes to the most skilled youngsters.   

 

DEVRIES SELECTED TO WORLD UNIVERSITY GAMES TEAM

 

Toronto Lady Lynx midfielder/defender, Kristy Devries, has been selected to represent Canada at the 2005 World University Games taking place from August 11th through 21st in Izmir, Turkey. Devries, a Kinesiology and Health Studies student from York University, appeared in 8 matches this season with the Lady Lynx. The native of Niagara-on-the-Lake was an Ontario University Athletics All-star in 2004 and will captain the York Lions this coming season.

 

The World University Games have existed in various incarnations since 1923. In their current form, the games have been held every 2 years since 1973. This year, World University Games will feature 9,000 participants from 170 countries from around the world. Twelve teams will compete this year in women's soccer, with Canada in a pool with France, Japan and the Czech Republic. They will open the tournament agains France on Wednesday, August 10th, the eve of the opening ceremonies. Canada's best ever finish in women's soccer at the event was 5th place in Buffalo, NY in 1993. 

 

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