Mariners, Lynx draw 1-1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Virginia Beach Mariners News Release - www.marinerssoccer.com
Sunday, May 1, 2005
VIRGINIA BEACH, VA -- The Virginia Beach Mariners extended their unbeaten streak to three matches after settling for a 1-1 draw against the Toronto Lynx on a picturesque Sunday evening in front of 572 at the Virginia Beach Sportsplex.
Following a stoppage time equalizer Friday at Charleston, the Mariners (1-2-2, 5 pts) had a hard time getting open past the Lynx (0-2-2, 2 pts) defense despite out-shooting the visiting side 16-6 for the match. Toronto consistently packed the box with as many as eight players forcing Virginia Beach to shoot from beyond the 18 yard box or struggle to find an opening inside the group of Lynx.
After the Mariners took three shots along with three corner kicks in the opening 10 minutes of play as well as failed opportunities by David Castellanos (forward) and Russell Hutchison (defender) soon after, midfielder Darren Caskey was right on the money on a free kick in the 36th minute.
When Toronto defender Jeremie Piette took down Castellanos just outside the 18’, Caskey precisely curved the ensuing free kick around the Toronto wall, sliding just inside the left post to put Virginia Beach in front with his second goal of the season.
Caskey almost struck again on a free kick five minutes later, serving a ball to a diving Hutchison but had his header stopped by Toronto keeper Theo Zagar. Midfielder Steve Shak also had his shot saved by Zagar in the 44th minute after Jakob Fenger (midfield) faked a pass to Castellanos down the left side before sending a ball over the back line as the Mariners went to the locker room with a 1-0 lead.
Toronto would level the score in the 58th minute of play when Conrad Smith (forward) sent a through ball to Winston Griffths (midfield) who tapped the ball just past an oncoming Matt Nelson (keeper).
The Mariners would step up their offensive pressure in an effort to pick up three points in the final minutes of the match. Caskey was unable to pass Zagar on multiple free kick opportunities including one inside the keeper box during stoppage time as Shak’s play was blocked wide.
Toronto would also get three chances to go ahead and log their first win of the season, but two Ali Gerba (forward) runs were denied by Nelson who logged four saves on the evening, and Rumba Munthali (midfield) couldn’t make ball contact with his head after a crossing free kick from the left side of the box in the 90th minute.
Center referee Erich Simmons kept his whistle quite handy Sunday whistling a combined 38 fouls, six offside calls, three Toronto cautions as well as a straight red card in the 75th minute given to Smith who made a hard tackle on Hutchison.
While the Lynx continue to try for their first win of 2005 in a six-game road trip this weekend at Charleston (Friday, 7:30pm) and Atlanta (Saturday, 5:30pm), Virginia Beach will be back at the Sportsplex Saturday, May 7 for a 7:30pm contest against the 2004 A-League Champion Montreal Impact.
.
.