FRIDAY, MAY 21, 2004
Attention: Sports Editors, Soccer Journalists, General Sportswriters,
Assignment Editors and other parties
NATIONAL TEAM PLAYERS, OTHER VETERANS RE-SIGN WITH INFERNO
(TORONTO, ONTARIO) The Toronto Inferno Soccer Club of North America's W-League has re-signed four of its veterans, including two who have represented Canada at the women's World Cup and Under-19 levels. The team has also acquired two other players with W-League experience gained in Vancouver.
Midfielder Melanie Booth and defender Holly Lincoln will split their soccer playing between the Inferno and Canada's national women's World Cup and Under-19 teams respectively.
Booth appeared in six matches for the Inferno in 2003, scoring twice and adding two assists. The nineteen-year-old Burlington native also just completed her first year of a soccer scholarship at the University of Florida. She was a starter for all of the Gators' 25 matches and picked up 11 assists while helping lead the team to an overall record of 19-4-2. Booth has also represented Canada on 15 occasions.
Lincoln, a Scarborough native who graduated from Agincourt Collegiate, has also completed her first year of a NCAA soccer scholarship. As a freshman defender with the Penn State Nittany Lions, Lincoln appeared in 10 matches, scoring once and assisting on another.
Striker Heather Gallacher of Scarborough returns to the Inferno for a third season. The graduate of Pope John Paul II Catholic Secondary School scored seven goals for the Inferno in 2003.
Georgetown's Kim Moore, who attended Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan for four years on a soccer scholarship, returns to the Inferno to help anchor its backline after taking one season off due to injury.
Naomi Eguchi, a native of Kobe, Japan, comes to the Inferno after playing for Okayama Yunogo Belle in the Japan's L-league. In 2002, she was a member of the W-League's Vancouver Breakers. Prior to that, Eguchi was an NAIA All-American Honourable Mention in 2001 and 2002 while playing for British Columbia's Simon Fraser University Clan. She also played two seasons for the UBC Alumni team under current Inferno head coach Tom McManus, helping lead the team to a provincial women's championship.
"She's very silky in her moves and has good speed as well as excellent ball handling skills," says McManus.
Sandi Potis brings more W-League experience to the Inferno having played for the Vancouver Breakers and Vancouver Whitecaps. She is expected to add some natural leadership to the Inferno, having been a captain of the Vancouver Angels (Women's Premier Soccer League) and the UBC Alumni. The Angels became the Vancouver Breakers upon entry into the W-League in 2001.
McManus expects to use Eguchi as a forward/striker and insert Potis as a midfielder or defender.
The Inferno begins its 2004 season with a match against the new Montréal Xtreme in Montréal on Sunday, May 23 at the Catalogna Soccer Plex. Kickoff time is 5 p.m.
The Inferno's second match of the current campaign is scheduled for Saturday, May 29 against the South Jersey Banshees at the Ontario Soccer Centre, 7601 Martin Grove Road, Vaughan. The Ontario Soccer Centre is located on the east side of Martin Grove Road between Steeles Avenue and Highway 7. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
The Banshees have started their season with a victory, 5-3 over the new Sudbury Canadians.
About the Toronto Inferno
The Toronto Inferno Soccer Club, founded in 1997, is the original Canadian W-League franchise. The league now counts seven Canadian franchises amongst its 37 member teams. The other 31 teams are located within the 48 contiguous states. More information about the league can be accessed at wleague.uslsoccer.com.
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For more information on the Inferno, please call 905-294-6199, e-mail us at inferno@torontoinferno.com, or visit our official Web site, www.torontoinferno.com.
Glenn Sutherland, Media Relations, Toronto Inferno Soccer Club, gsutherland@torontoinferno.com
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