TORONTO LADY LYNX
MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PAIR OF LADY LYNX HEADING
TO MEXICO FOR U-20 WC QUALIFYING
Tuesday, January 10, 2006 (TORONTO, ON) - The
on-field success of the inaugural 2005 Lady Lynx season is being recognized
with a pair of Lady Lynx players selected to represent Canada at the
upcoming U-20 World Cup Qualifying tournament in Mexico being held from
January 18-27.
The Canadian line-up will be bolstered by the presence of
Amanda Cicchini and Robin Rushton from the
Toronto Lady Lynx. Both players missed significant time during the 2005
Lady Lynx season as a result of National Team Duty and injury but were
exceptional in the playoffs helping the club make it to the Eastern
Conference final while playing every minute of each playoff game.
Amanda Cicchini appeared in 6 regular season games, as
well as in all 3 playoff games during the 2005 Lady Lynx season earning 1
goal and 3 assists. Cicchini has made 13 appearances for the U-20 program
scoring 1 goal, in addition to earning 4 caps with the Canadian Women's
World Cup team.
Robin Rushton who played in 8 regular season games, in
addition to all 3 playoff games, was a defensive standout for the Lady Lynx
while contributing an assist on the offensive side of things. Rushton has
been a member of the National Training Centre Ontario Program for several
years and this trip to Mexico will provide her with the first opportunity
to earn a cap at the U-20 level.
Amanda and Robin are also team-mates on the West Virginia
University Soccer Team where they both started in all 19 of the Mountaineers
matches helping the team to a 11-5-3 record and the second round of the NCAA
tournament before bowing out to Penn State University and fellow Lady Lynx
player Holly Lincoln.
FIFA has recently changed the Women’s U-19 World
Championship format to an U-20 tournament and as a result several Canadian
"veterans" from the 2004 campaign, including Cicchini, are looking forward
for the opportunity to make up for the disappointment of Thailand, where
Canada lost 3-1 to China in the quarter-finals. Canada's keeper was
red-carded and China was awarded a penalty in the opening minute.
Canada played almost the entire game with only 10 players.
CONCACAF (Confederation Of North Central American And Caribbean Association
Football) qualifying matches will take place in Mexico later this month as
follows:
Group A
Canada, Mexico (host), Panama, Trinidad & Tobago
Group B
El Salvador, Jamaica, Surinam, U.S.A.
The winners and runners-up of each group qualify for the semi-finals. The
two semi-final winners automatically qualify and the two semi-final losers
play off to qualify for the third CONCACAF spot in the World Championships.
The FIFA U-20 Women’s World Championships is being held in Russia from
August 17th to September 3rd.
Canada's schedule (local time) is as follows:
Group A: Veracruz, MEXICO; Estadio Luis Pirata Fuentes
January 18, 2006
CANADA – TRINIDAD & TOBAGO (12:00)
January 20, 2006
PANAMA – CANADA (12:00)
January 22, 2006
MEXICO – CANADA (15:00)
January 25, 2006
Veracruz, MEXICO; Estadio Luis Pirata Fuentes
SEMIFINALS *
A1 – B2 (12:00)
B1 – A2 (15:00)
January 27, 2006
Veracruz, MEXICO; Estadio Luis Pirata Fuentes
THIRD PLACE: SEMIFINAL LOSERS (12:00)
FINAL: SEMIFINAL WINNERS (15:00)
–30 –
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
MIKE LEBLANC - DIRECTOR OF
OPERATIONS, TORONTO LYNX SOCCER CLUB
416-251-4625 ext. 23