Lynx Drop Home Opener to Rochester   

Date: May 13, 2006

Venue: Centennial Park Stadium. Toronto, Ontario                      

Attendance: 2 129

Kick Off Time: 4:00 PM EST

Final Score: Toronto 0     Rochester 2   

Match Summary:

The Toronto Lynx dropped their 2006 home opener 2-0 to the Rochester Raging Rhinos this afternoon in front of 2,129 fans at Centennial Park Stadium.

Rochester opened the scoring in the 15^th minute.  Frankie Sanfilippo sent in a cross from the right flank that Mathew Delicate headed past Lynx ‘keeper Theo Zagar from close range. 

Toronto came close to an equalizer right after the re-start when Robbie Aristodemo’s shot from just outside the area sailed just over Rochester goalkeeper Scott Vallow’s crossbar.

Lynx striker Matt Palleschi had an excellent chance to equalize in the 31^st minute after Dave Diplacido’s pass left him alone with only Rochester’s goalkeeper to beat, but his low shot was well saved by Vallow.

Both sides exchanged scoring chances before that half, but Delicate’s goal remained the difference between both teams at the interval.  Toronto was reduced to ten men immediately after the first half whistle when Matt Palleschi was shown red for a tackle on Juninho in the last play of the first half.  Rochester reserve ‘keeper Patrick Hannigan was also shown red in the ensuing fracas. 

Rochester made it 2-0 in the 66^th minute when John Ball received Johnny Menyongar’s pass inside the area.  Ball’s powerful shot beat Zagar on the near side, bouncing off the crossbar as it sailed in.  Menyongar came close to making it 3-0 in the 82^nd minute but his powerful shot from close range was well saved by Zagar. 

Toronto pressed ahead looking for an equaliser, but Rochester’s back line and goalkeeper stood firm in the latter stages of the match.  It was 2-0 to visiting Rochester at the final whistle.  Rochester goalkeeper Scott Vallow made 2 stops en route to his shutout this evening. Toronto was out shot 21-12 after 90 minutes of play.  Today’s result was Toronto’s third consecutive 2-0 loss this season, leaving Toronto with a record of 0-3-0.

The Lynx are next in action when they travel to Seattle to take on the Sounders on Saturday May 20^th at 10:00 PM EST.

Final Score:     Toronto 0     Rochester 2 

Lineups:

Toronto: Zagar, Mattacchione (Shepherd 45), Titus, Bedenikovic, Arango, Williams, Aristodemo (Baxter 59), Dekker (Chin 45), Dodds (Neto 57), Diplacido (Andre 75), Palleschi

Rochester: Vallow, Sanfilippo, Bertz (Perry, 35), Palguta, Craft, Ball, Bonseu, DaSilva (Howes 81), Menyongar, Gbeke (Edozien 81), Delicate (Lines, 62)

Cautions: Rochester: Bertz,  Toronto: Zagar, Chin, Baxter                                                 

Ejections: Toronto: Palleschi  Rochester: Hannigan

Shots: Toronto 12, Rochester 21  

Saves: Toronto 7, Rochester 2

Fouls: Toronto 9, Rochester 15 

Scorers: Rochester: Delicate (Sanfilippo) 15, Ball (Menyongar) 66

The Toronto Lynx’ next game is away to the Seattle Sounders on May 20^th at 10:00 PM EST.