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Dogs, Lynx scoreless in Toronto
Syracuse starts a busy week with a draw against a Northeast Division rival.

June 16, 2003

By Nolan Weidner
Staff writer

Toronto - Syracuse and Toronto played 110 minutes of scoreless soccer on Sunday, and that was just fine with Salty Dogs coach Laurie Calloway.

While the Lynx was credited with more shots than the Salty Dogs, 12-7, Calloway said he was happy to escape with a draw on the road.

"We knew it was going to be a battle," Calloway said in a telephone interview after the game. "It was just a very difficult game. I'm very pleased with the result."

Calloway watched the match from the Centennial Park press box while serving a one-game suspension for arguing a referee's call in a June 1 contest at Milwaukee. Player-coach Tommy Tanner was in charge on the sidelines, and the starting midfielder did not dress for the game.

The third meeting between the Northeast Division rivals had the referee busy with his whistle, as a total of 50 fouls were called - 26 on the Lynx and 24 on the Dogs. There also were seven yellow cards given - two to Toronto and five to Syracuse.

The teams played through 90 minutes of regulation and a pair of 10-minute overtime periods before the game was called a draw. The tie keeps the Salty Dogs (5-3-1) third in the A-League's Northeast Division, behind Montreal and Rochester. Toronto is tied with Pittsburgh for fourth at 3-5-3.

Toronto goalkeeper Theo Zagar wasn't credited with a single save. Syracuse goalkeeper Mike Gabb was credited with three saves, including a leaping stop on a powerful shot in the 64th minute by Toronto forward Sebastian Barclay.

Three Lynx shots hit the crossbar, including a Barclay header in the 34th minute, a thundering shot by midfielder Joe Mattacchione in the 66th minute, and an 88th-minute shot by Nikola Vignjevic.

Syracuse's best opportunities came on several free kicks, particularly one by Ryan Mack in the 93rd minute that sailed just over the crossbar.

Calloway said the field conditions weren't the best, with heavy rains causing a "bumpy" surface that kept his team from generating much offense.

"We didn't really create any clear cut chances," he said. "Neither team really created much."

It was the first draw of the season for the Salty Dogs, who started a week of four matches. The team returns home to face Pittsburgh on Wednesday night. Toronto visits on Friday and Virginia Beach comes to town on Saturday. The weekend games are at P&C Stadium, and Wednesday's match is at Liverpool High School stadium.

Syracuse0 0 0 0 - 0 Toronto0 0 0 0 - 0 Scoring: none; Shots: Toronto 12, Syracuse 7; Saves: Gabb (Syr) 3; Fouls: Toronto 26, Syracuse 24; Corner kicks: Toronto 8, Syracuse 2; Offsides: Toronto 11, Syracuse 9; Cautions: Toronto- DiPlacido (24th minute), Ashton (110th), Syracuse- Cooks (24th), Tsakiris (29th), Millwood (43rd), Kirmse (90th), McNab (105th). Attendance: 2,189.

© 2003 The Post-Standard. Used with permission.

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