Share News April 28, 2005

Lynx will be contender - coach
By RON FANFAIR

Toronto Lynx new head coach Herb Busby says he's not bothered by his team's inauspicious start, and promises that his club will be a contender this season in the United Soccer League's (USL) first division.

The Lynx dropped its opening game last Saturday night, succumbing 3-0 to the Portland Timbers who out shot the Toronto side 10-7. The Lynx drew nil-all with the Vancouver Whitecaps the following night at Swangard stadium.

The Timbers, who lost 3-0 to the Lynx in their only previous meeting four years ago, netted all three of their goals in the second half.

"We made three defensive mistakes and they made us pay each time," said Busby. "You cannot give teams at this level those opportunities, because they will capitalize on them. Good teams simply punish you when you make the kind of mistakes that we did."

Busby inserted former Trinidad & Tobago international Rick Titus and current T & T player Conrad Smith into the starting line-up to face the Whitecaps before a capacity crowd of over 5,000.

"The team showed great character in the way they were able to bounce back after a disappointing loss on a poor surface the previous night," he said. "Everybody worked their socks off and I am proud of them."

The team returned home on Monday to prepare for this weekend's back-to-back games on the road against Richmond Kickers on Saturday and the Virginia Beach Mariners on Sunday.

"Now that we actually have two games that matter under our belt, the aim is to have a good week of practice and go out there and start winning some games," Busby said.

The coach said he doesn't feel that he's under any pressure to start producing winning results immediately.

"We have a plan and I am going to stick to it," he said. "With a little time, I am confident that it will work and the victories will come."

The team plays its first of six games on the road before the season home opener against the defending A-League champions Montreal Impact on May 15.

The Lynx heads back on the road next week to take on Charleston Battery on May 6 and the Atlanta Silverbacks the following night.

Busby said he does not plan to use the tough schedule as an excuse.

"Sure, we have been dealt a rough hand, but we have to go out there and play with the hand we have been given," he pointed out. "In fact, I hope that my players will use it as motivation to show that we can handle any adverse situation that we are put under. We just have to go out there and play Toronto Lynx soccer."

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