Lynx pleased with first year success
September 13, 2005 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Toronto Lynx News Release
The Toronto Lady Lynx inaugural season in the W-League, playing a total of 14 home and away games, was an overwhelming success both on and off the field. Fielding a young team loaded with local talent, the Lady Lynx reached the Eastern Conference Finals after posting a 11-3-0 regular season record and finishing 2nd in the Northern Division of the Eastern Conference. In earning the second seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs, the Lady Lynx hosted the first playoff match for the club since 2000, defeating the Vermont Lady Voltage 6-0 and reaching the conference finals with a hard fought 2-1 victory over the Boston Renegades, two-time W-League Champions. The Lady Lynx season came to a close with a 2-0 loss to the Ottawa Fury, which reached the W-League Championship Tournament for the third straight year.
Head Coach, Brett Mosen did a super job of assembling the Lady Lynx squad that featured 20 young players from the GTA. The star of the inaugural season was striker, Kim Warner, from Aurora, Ontario, who earned the Lady Lynx Most Valuable Player and Best Offensive Player Award. Warner scored a W-League best 15 goals and added 2 assists in 12 matches and was named to the All-League and All-Eastern Conference teams. She was joined on the All-Eastern Conference Team by defender, Catharine Marosszeky of Aurora, ON. Marosszeky appeared in every match for the Lady Lynx and was a pillar of strength as a central defender, earning co-Defensive Player of the Year Award. She shared the award with Ciara Gaizutis of Maple, ON, a tough, physical defender who also headed up the first Toronto Lady Lynx Fantasy Camp that gave hundreds of young players the opportunity to train with the Lady Lynx for 2 weeks during the summer. In addition to the Lady Lynx award winners, the club also featured several international level players at both the senior and youth levels, including: Amanda Cicchini (Canada), Melanie Booth (Canada) Stacey Van Boxmeer (Canada), Deana Everrett (Canada), Robin Rushton (Canada) Yuiko Konno (Japan) and Julia Ralph (Scotland).
Off-the-field, the Lady Lynx enjoyed tremendous fan support in their first season compiling a total attendance of 17,555 fans for the 7 home matches and the playoff match which all took place at Centennial Park Stadium. The average attendance of 2,194 soccer fans consisting mainly of young female players, coaches and parents was the second best attendance record in the 36-team W-League.
The W-League is the first national soccer league for women providing the most complete women's player pool in the world and recognized as North America's best women's development organization by FIFA.The W-League consists of three conferences: the Central Conference containing the Atlantic Division and Midwest Division; the Eastern Conference encompassing the North Division and the Northeast Division and Western Conference.
Nicole Hartrell, the owner and Chief Operating Officer of the club, is thrilled with the results saying, " We are over-the-top with the success of our first year of fielding the Lady Lynx. We couldn't have done it without the tremendous commitment of the Lady Lynx players and coaching staff; the leadership and support of our corporate sponsors, increased partnerships with Youth Soccer Clubs and the tremendous enthusiasm and support of the fans and our media partners. We look forward to growing the Toronto Lady Lynx Club in the years to come and know that the talent we are developing in our city will make the Lynx a big contributor to Canada's performance on the world stage!"
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USL First Division Stories from September 13, 2005
- Timbers haul in season-ending accolades - Portland Timbers
- Mariners finish season with honors - Virginia Beach Mariners
- USL week 21 team of the Week announced - USL-1
- USL First Division statistical awards announced - USL-1
- Sounders at home this Saturday - Seattle Sounders
- Lynx pleased with first year success - Toronto Lynx
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