LADY LYNX OPEN TRAINING CAMP

Marko Bedenikovic named to USL-1 Team of the Week

WEDNESDAY MAY 3, 2006[TORONTO, ON] The Toronto Lady Lynx began preparations for their second season this week as they started their training camp at Centennial Park in Etobicoke on Monday.  Over thirty hopefuls gathered to showcase their talents and to try to impress Lady Lynx Head Coach, Danny Stewart.

Returning players Justine Bernier, Ciara Giazutis, Nicole Mailloux, Natalie Martineau and Loredana Riverso lead a group of young and talented players eager to crack the Lady Lynx line-up at the camp.  The club will look to build on its highly successful inaugural season which ended with a narrow loss to divisional rival , the Ottawa Fury, in the Eastern Conference Final.  The majority of the players in camp has extensive experience at the provincial and national levels and are part of the National Training Centre Ontario program which is based at the Soccer Centre in Vaughan. Other players in training include Vonya Beckles, Melissa Bigg, Allysha Chapman, Brittany Harrison, Lexi Marton, Tina Romagnuolo and Sara Scharoun. 

The Lady Lynx contingent of U.S. based NCAA players  not yet in camp who are arriving early next week include Amanda Cicchini, Deanna Everrett, Sylvia Forbes, Holly Lincoln, Catharine Marosszeky, Robin Rushton and  Jennifer Williams. The 2005 W-League scoring champion Kim Warner is in rehabilitation nursing a knee injury and will miss training camp.  Her recovery is being  closely monitored by the Lynx’ medical team and her status will be updated prior to the season.

The mix of the returning veterans and the infusion of the young and talented newcomers is sure to create an exciting product on the field for soccer fans this season.  The Lady Lynx will kick off the W-League campaign next Saturday, May 13, when they host the expansion team, the Rochester Rhinos at 1:00 PM at Centennial Park Stadium.  The match is the first game of a double-header with the Lynx men tackling Rochester at 4:00 PM.

BEDENIKOVIC NAMED TO TEAM OF THE WEEK

Lynx defender/midfielder Marko Bedenikovic was named to the USL-1 Team of the Week for his stellar play during a 2-0 loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday evening at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby, BC.  Playing at wide left midfield in Head Coach Duncan Wilde’s 4-5-1 formation, the rookie was the Lynx’ most dangerous player throughout the match with three shots on goal, and was unlucky not to score, being robbed late in the match by a diving save on his powerful left-footed strike by Whitecaps ‘keeper Josh Wicks.  Bedenikovic is the first Lynx player to receive the honour this season.

LYNX EXHIBITION MATCH AT SOCCER CENTRE IN VAUGHAN

The Toronto Lynx will take advantage of an off-week in the USL-1 schedule and play an exhibition match against the new CPSL squad Serbian White Eagles on Saturday evening at 6:00 PM at the Soccer Centre in Vaughan.  Wilde hopes to use the match to integrate all of the new Lynx’ players into the line-up and get a further on evaluation on all of the new young talent that the Lynx have signed this season.  Tickets for this exhibition match will be available at the gate. Media will also have a further opportunity to meet Lynx players and coaching staff on Tuesday May 9^th for the annual Lynx Media Day before the Home Opener kicking off the Lynx 10^th season at home!

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FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
ROB IRWIN, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, TORONTO LYNX SOCCER CLUB

416-251-4625 ext. 23