FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TORONTO LYNX GAME REPORT

presented by Heineken

LYNX OPEN HOME SCHEDULE IN STYLE

TORONTO POCKETS LATE MARKER TO HAND ROCHESTER THEIR FIRST LOSS OF THE SEASON

Date: Sunday, May 16, 2004

Venue: Centennial Park Stadium, Toronto, Ontario

Attendance: 2,187

Kick off Time: 4:00 PM

Final Score: Rochester 1 Toronto 2

The Toronto Lynx opened their 2004 home season with an impressive 2-1 victory over the previously undefeated Rochester Raging Rhinos today. After a tough road trip to start the 2004 campaign the Lynx returned to the friendly confines of Centennial Park Stadium to meet their greatest rival. This was the second meeting of the season between these two with Rochester coming away with a 4-nil win on May 1st. After thrilling pre-game performances by the Toronto Lynx Flygirls and the Toronto Lynx Dance Team, and a lovely rendition of the American and Canadian National Anthems from the Etobicoke Centennial Choir, Canadian soccer ambassador, Dick Howerd brought in the season with the celebrity kick. After a slow start by both teams Lynx defender Adrian Serioux found John Barry Nusum inside the box but former Lynx standout 'keeper Theo Zagar came up with the save. The Rhinos responded in the 13th minute when Ryan Trout delivered a sweet pass to Noah Delgado who sent a rocket towards the top right corner but Lynx Keeper Bryheem Hancock got a hand on it and sent it over the crossbar. Hancock was once again outstanding in recording his second victory of the season. The game turned in the 33rd minute when a late challenge from Shawn Tsakiris on Lynx midfielder, Edgar Bartolomeu resulted in his ejection and sent Bartolomeu to hospital with a head injury. Down a player, Rochester continued to press with the best scoring chance of the half came 37 minutes in when Rhinos sniper Chris Carreri got the ball in point blank range but could not get it by Hancock. In injury time Darren Baxter's free kick from the right corner went off David DiPlacido to Ali Gerba but his header went wide of the goal to end the half.

Toronto opened the second half as the clear aggressor taking the play to Rochester. Fan favourite Brian Ashton came out of retirement and entered the match for the last time as a member of the Lynx and sparked the offense. In the 58th minute off a free kick from the top of the box Ali Gerba sent a bullet through a wall of Rochester defenders and right on target but Zagar knocked it down and collected the rebound. Toronto did manage the to open the scoring in the 69th minute, after Igor Prostran sent a pass down the left side to Nusum, 'keeper Theo Zagar made contact with the Lynx forward inside the box. Awarded with a penalty kick Gerba made good finding the low right corner for a 1-nil Toronto lead. Rochester responded in the 82nd minute off the Ryan Trout throw in, Billy Sedgewick's initial shot was blocked but he managed to head the rebound past a sprawled Hancock for the tying goal. The drama continued into injury time when Gerba got the ball on the left side of the box, danced past a defender drawing Zagar out of the goal before sending a pass to Darren Baxter who buried the winner into an open net. The victory improved the Lynx record to 2-3-0 on the season. The Lynx are back in action in two weeks time when they battle the Montreal Impact in a home-and-home series, Friday, May 28th in Montreal and Saturday, May 29th at Centennial Stadium with a 4:00pm kickoff.

4th Min: Adrian Serioux pass to John Barry Nusum inside the box but Theo Zagar made the save

13th Min: Serioux turnover led to a chance by Chris Carrieri but Bryheem Hancock got a hand on it and deflected it over the crossbar

33rd Min: Shaun Tsakiris chasing down a loose ball went clete-up into Lynx Midfielder Edgar Bartolomeu and received a red card while Bartolomeu left the game on a stretcher

37th Min: Chris Carrieri from point blank range stopped by Hancock

52ndMin: Brian Ashton came out of retirement and entered the match for the last time in a Lynx uniform

58th Min: Ali Gerba with a free kick from the top of the box rifled a bullet through a wall of Rhino defenders but Zagar calmly knocked it down and out of harms way

69th Min: Igor Prostran sent a pass down the left side for Nusum who was taken down by Zagar in the box, penalty kick awarded to the Lynx

69th Min: Gerba free kick into the low right corner past Zagar, 1-0 TO

70th Min: Corey Woolfoli launched a missile from the right side of the box that went off the crossbar

82nd Min: Off the Ryan Trout throw in Billy Sedgewick's initial shot was blocked but he managed to head the rebound just past a sprawled Hancock for the tying goal, 1-1

90th Min: Great individual effort from Gerber who managed to draw Zagar to the side of the goal before delivering a pass to Darren Baxter who buried the winner into an open net

Final Score: Rochester 1 Toronto 2

Rochester: Zagar, Demmin, Wright, Sedgewick, Wilson, Tsakiris, Trout, Wilson, Fuller, Delgado, Carrieri, Hughes (Prostran 65)

Toronto: Hancock, Serioux, Munthali, Gerber, Mattacchione, DiPlacido (Ashton 52), Nusum, Hughes, Blois, Baxter, Bartolomeu (Dodds 33)

Cautions: Roch: Delgado (45th min) Tor: Serioux (3 min), Nusum (43rd min)

Ejections: Tsakiris (33rd min, dangerous tackle)

Shots: Roch: 14 Tor: 16

Saves: Roch: 6 Tor: 7

Fouls: Roch: 9 Tor: 13

Offsides: Roch: 2 Tor: 4

Corners: Roch: 5 Tor: 2

Scorers: Roch: Sedgewick (unassisted) 82nd minute Tor: Gerba (PK) 68th minute, Baxter (Gerba) 90th minute

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

DAVID NUTT, MEDIA RELATIONS

416-251-4625 ext. 30