Date: May
1, 2005
Venue: Virginia
Beach Sportsplex, Virginia Beach, Virginia
Attendance:
572
Kick Off Time:
6:00 EST
Final Score: Virginia
Beach 1 Toronto 1
Match Summary:
After a disappointing loss
to Richmond on Saturday night, the Toronto Lynx traveled
across state to play the Virginia Beach Mariners at the
Sportsplex in Virginia Beach, Virginia this evening.
Virginia was hoping to improve on their 1-2-1 record
this season, while the Lynx continued their hunt for
their first win of the season. The Lynx had a franchise
record of 4-5-0 against Virginia Beach heading into
tonight's match. The last encounter between the two
sides in Virginia Beach ended in a 3-2 victory for the
home side back in May of 2004. Toronto hoped to improve
their offense which had produced one goal in three
games, coming via striker Ali Gerba's first goal of the
season (against Richmond) last night. It was Virginia
Beach who opened the scoring through Darren Caskey after
36 minutes. The Mariner's were ahead as the first half
whistle blew.&nb sp; The Lynx equalized in the 58th
minute through newly acquired Jamaican international
Winston Grifiths. The man on loan from Arnett Gardens
of the Jamaican Premier League, who had just
been brought on by Lynx Head Coach Hubert Busby Jr.,
connected with Conrad Smith's flick-on pass and slotted
it by Mariners' goalkeeper Matt Nelson. The Lynx
defended fiercely as full-time approached, with Rick
Titus and Rumba Munthali cautioned in the in the 73rd
and 79th minute respectively. Conrad Smith was shown a
red in the 75th minute for a dangerous tackle.
The Mariners could not capitalize on their numerical
superiority and it was 1-1 as the final whistle
sounded. Toronto Lynx Head Coach Hubert Busby Jr. was
satisfied with the result but thought that his team
could have come away with a win. "We could have come
away with three points tonight. We eliminated mistakes
from l ast night and were the better team for the first
35 minutes of the second half." Busby Jr. told
lynxsoccer.com from Virginia Beach. Looking ahead to
next weekend's two matches, Busby Jr. said; "We will
continue to improve and work towards getting ourselves
in the win column. We deserved a win this weekend."
The Lynx rest in 8th position in the USL First Division
after tonight's draw. Toronto will play their fifth of
six games on the road when they visit Richmond on May 6,
for a 7:30 PM EST kickoff. It will be the second last
game away from home before returning home to Centennial
Stadium on May 15 to face title holders Montreal
Impact.
Final Score: Virginia
Beach 1 Toronto 1
Cautions:
Toronto: Piette 25, Titus 73, Munthali 79
Ejections:
Toronto: Smith 75
Shots: Virginia
Beach 16, Toronto 6
Scorers:
Virginia Beach: Caskey (unassisted) 36, Toronto: Grifiths
(Smith) 58
The Toronto Lynx
next game is in Charleston against the Battery on May 6,
2005.
Lynx home opener is
on May 15th against the Montreal Impact at Centennial
Park Stadium at 4:00 PM.