TORONTO LYNX JUNIORS EARN #4 SPOT IN NORTH AMERICAN RANKINGS

THURSDAY OCTOBER 23, 2008 (TORONTO, CANADA) The United Soccer Leagues (USL) have unveiled their 2008 North American Super-Y League club rankings, and the on the heels of their best-ever season, the Toronto Lynx Juniors have been slotted into the 4^th overall position.  The USL thoroughly evaluates the hundreds of clubs involved in the Super-Y League program across the continent annually based on a number of key factors, and the top 62 programs are recognized and ranked accordingly. The 4^th place ranking marks an all-time best placing for the Lynx Juniors, up from 9^th place in 2007.  The honour is a major achievement for the club, who compete in the highly-competitive Midwest Division of the Super-Y League, generally regarded as one of the toughest divisions in North America.

Intent on building upon a successful 2007 season, which saw the U17 Boys reach the North American final, and the U20 Men fall one step short of the finals with a shoot-out loss in the North American semi-finals, the Lynx Juniors took to the field in 2008 with lofty expectations.  Head Coach and Academy Director Duncan Wilde’s young charges did not disappoint, with the U20 Men going one step further to the Super-20 League final, where they lost a tight match 2-1 to the MLS-affiliated Chicago Fire, and both the U15 and U17 Boys booking spots in the 2008 North American Finals in Tampa from November 20-25. 

The Lady Lynx Juniors also experienced their own success, with the U20 Women reach the North American finals in their inaugural season.  The program earned a respectable #31 ranking in their first year of eligibility.  The position serves as a solid foundation for the Lady Lynx Juniors, and provides encouragement as they continue working towards 2009 and beyond.

Wilde was clearly enthusiastic about the lofty position in the USL club rankings, saying "The entire Junior Lynx coaching staff and management team have worked incredibly hard to earn this achievement. We have a very focused and dedicated player pool which is complimented by a very supportive parent group. The system has proved without question that it is developing into one of the top programs in North America."

The Junior Lynx program also continues to build and foster its affiliation with the Bolton Wanderers FC (BWFC) of the English Premier League.  BWFC International Director John Hindley will join the Florida-bound teams in Tampa for the Super-Y League North American Championships. 

The program also enjoys perennial success in securing scholarships for a large number of players in both the boys and girls programs with NCAA university teams, while simultaneously developing players for both the Lynx and Lady Lynx in the PDL and W-League respectively.  The hard work of the players to achieve their goals on and off the field has allowed the club to become vibrant, strong and competitive. This is what excites Wilde more than anything else. "We have created a completely different player opportunity than anything else out there in Ontario, with competition against top American programs; participation in major college showcase events; the opportunity to attend Olympic Development Program (ODP) camps, all under the watchful eye of the Bolton Wanderers. Our ranking further motivates everyone involved as we continue working towards making the Lynx Juniors program the very best it can be".

JUNIOR LYNX TAKE NEW YORK

The Toronto Lynx Juniors came out on top once again at the Christopher Columbus Cup, hosted on the Thanksgiving weekend in Brooklyn New York, earning championships in the U16 and U19 Boy’s divisions, while coming ever so close to a triple with the U17’s losing the final in a penalty shoot-out.  The Lynx claimed one title in 2007, capturing the U17 trophy.

The Lady Lynx Juniors U17 girls were victorious in Philadelphia on the same weekend, claiming the Columbus Day weekend tournament with a 6-0 victory in the final.  The team continues to show marked improvement as they integrate a number of new players into the program as they work towards the 2009 Super-Y League season.

The U19 Lady Lynx Juniors attended the Nike Classic showcase in Chicago at the same time, but were unable to claim any hardware.  The team was highly competitive throughout the weekend, with one win and two losses in the prestigious event, with all games ending with a 1-0 scoreline.

The Lady Lynx Juniors will next participate in the MAPS College showcase in November in Fort Dix, New Jersey.

Further information, program details and tryout opportunities are all available by contacting Academy Director Duncan Wilde at dwilde@lynxsoccer.com.