Lynx Begin Season Against Western Powerhouses
Published on April 21, 2005 under USL First Division (USL-1)
Toronto Lynx News Release
[TORONTO, ON] - The Toronto Lynx Soccer Club will begin their 2005 USL First Division season on the road as they take on the Portland Timbers and the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday, April 23rd and Sunday, April 24th respectively. The road trip will be a huge test for new Head Coach, Hubert Busby Jr.'s overhauled roster with Portland having won the USL First Division regular season championship last season and Vancouver having reached the Western Conference finals.
"This year we find ourselves beginning the season against two western powerhouses," said Busby. "We've had a great training camp and I know our players will be anxious to get the season underway."
The match in Portland will be the first meeting between the Lynx and Timbers since a 3-0 Lynx win in Toronto back in August of 2001. The Timbers are led by striker Byron Alvarez and midfielder Hugo Alcaraz-Cueller who both earned All-A-League honours last season. Alvarez scored 12 goals last season, fourth best in the league, despite missing 6 matches due to visa problems, while Alcaraz-Cueller ranked third in the league with 9 assists.
Historically, the Lynx/Whitecaps rivalry has been evenly matched with a 3-3-1 record all-time. The Whitecaps will once again field a very talented team featuring Canadian National Team pool players, Martin Nash, Carlo Corrazin, Nick Dasovic, Davide Xausa and Johnny Sulentic. After reaching the Conference Finals in two of the past three seasons, the Whitecaps will be aiming for their First USL First Division Championship.
Following this western stretch, the Lynx will continue on the road for the next two weekends for a total of 6 away matches before local fans can finally catch them in action. The home opener will take place at Centennial Park Stadium on Sunday, May 15th at 1pm when they welcome the defending USL First Division Champion Montreal Impact to Centennial Park Stadium. This match will be a double header starting with the inaugural season of the Toronto Lady Lynx at 1:00. Fans will get two games for the price of one! For ticket information call 416-251-4625 ext. 31 or visit www.lynxsoccer.com.
USL First Division Stories from April 21, 2005
- Timbers sign goalkeepers Saunders and Reynolds - Portland Timbers
- Lynx Begin Season Against Western Powerhouses - Toronto Lynx
- Battery to wear new custom LOTTO jersey in 2005 - Charleston Battery
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