Mirror-Guardian: Host Astros in Playoffs



Host Astros in playoffs


Sam Laskaris More from this author
Sep. 25, 2002

The North York Astros haven't had too much to brag about this season but things are looking up for the local Canadian Professional Soccer League franchise.

The Astros have posted a 2-9-4 record in league play so far this season.

North York is in the basement of the league's seven-team Western Conference.

One of the main reasons for the Astros record to date is that it has had more than its share of injuries this year.

At one point the club had nine starters who were sidelined with various ailments.

"Any team that loses nine starters would be in disarray," said Bruno Ierullo, Astros' general manager.

Ierullo said his club has yet to dress a league maximum of 18 players for any of its games this season.

The closest the Astros came was when they had 17 healthy bodies available for a match.

A league regulation states teams must have at least 13 players dressed for a game. And the Astros have never had less than 15 for games this year.

Regardless of how they fare the rest of this season, the Astros will still be competing in the league finals tournament next month.

That's because the North York franchise is playing host to the year-end tournament.

The Astros will be one of five clubs in the tourney. And they are guaranteed of playing at least one game.

A victory in that contest would propel them into the league semi-finals with the final game taking place Oct. 20.

"That game is our whole season," Ierullo said. "We want to create some sort of streak going into it."

Ierullo was also excited about finally having Argentinian import midfielder Guillermo Compton Hall in his lineup.

He had agreed to play for the Astros this season but visa difficulties prevented him from entering Canada.

The player, who toiled in Argentina's Division 1 last season with a team called Huracan, finally received his papers to arrive in Canada last Tuesday.

"We're looking at him to score some goals and to give us a different dimension in the midfield that we've lacked all year," Ierullo said.

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