June 7, 2012 PDL--Toronto Lynx vs Michigan Bucks

[Rocket Robin]

Result of the Thursday June 7, 2012 PDL game between Toronto Lynx and
Michigan Bucks played at Centennial Stadium in Etobicoke at 7:00pm.

Final Score:.....Toronto Lynx......0......Michigan Bucks.......0...

Attendance was about 100* on this warm evening with a strong sun
in the north west. The sun was still out when it started raining
quite hard for a few minutes in the first half.
*(quite a few were from Lynx Academy teams)

Ben Ur earned the shutout for the Lynx and Sean Teepen did the same
for the Bucks. Both had to make some key saves and had defenders
make blocks and clearances.

Referee Steve Senderovich gave out only one Yellow card that I noticed
but kept tight control of this game which was wide open for most
of the second half with Bucks pressing hard for the last 25 minutes.

Best scoring chances were at 5 minutes when MB Tom Catalano near
the right end line stopped the ball and crossed from 15 yards through
the 6 yard box where MB Kenny Uzoigwe on the left shot over the net
from 5 yards. 38 minutes had TL Cameron Eisses from 25 yards on the
left bend a shot that the goalie caught at 6 yards before twisting
into the right side of the nest. 54 minutes had TL James Galvany
cut back twice to elude two defenders and get away a 22 yard shot
that the goalie palmed over the net. 74 minutes had MB Stew Givens
took a long throw-in (one of many) from the right that had Catalano
blast a 15 yarder from the left that the goalie goalie flew to catch
at 6 yards. 78 minutes had TL Jon Parolini with space in the middle
take a 22 yard blast that was saved by the diving goalie on the
left post and TL Jon Costa shot the 7 yard rebound that the prone
goalie deflected wide left for a cornerkick. The resulting
cornerkick had TL Terrence Smith jump to head a 3 yarder wide of the
net. 88 minutes had MB Givens with another of his long throw-ins
have MB Kevin Cope head wide left from 8 yards in one of the few
details I was fast enough to write down in the last five minutes
of the game.

This was the first point of the season for the Lynx after five
straight defeats. The team continues to struggle scoring goals
as they have only 5 this year while giving up 13 goals in
6 games. James Galvani leads the team with three goals, Macca
Wilde has one but had to sit out this game after picking up
an injury time Red card in their last game away against Chicago
Fire Premier. (the other score was not recorded).

Michigan Bucks were the team that just two Tuesday's ago in the
US Open Cup 3rd Round beat the MLS Chicago Fire 3-2 in extra time.
That was the MLS team not their PDL affiliate! The team was tired
tonight after playing on Tuesday night in the 4th Round when they
lost 2-1 in extra time to the USL Pro team Dayton Dutch Lions.
The Dutch Lions had beaten MLS Columbus Crew the week before.
The Lions have former Lynx player Taylor Lord on their roster.

Detailed stats of the US Open Cup are hard to find but Bucks
goalie Sean Teepen said after tonight's game "this was the same
lineup" as they used in those matches. A Bucks fan said the
team "didn't play that well tonight". Another fan said about
three internationals couldn't make it across the Canadian border.
That seemed true as they only had four subs which included
a back up goalie. Lynx didn't really exploit that difference
by maxing their substitutions but I could see that being a
wise choice in not breaking up their momentum.

The result was a surprise to me because of the Bucks record.
It was comparable to the scoreless draw on the weekend between
the national teams of Canada vs USA. Both teams had chances
in that game but the Lynx/Canada was a huge underdog.

The Lynx had given up game winning goals against FC London
at 86, Hamilton at 68, and Chicago Fire Premier at 77 minutes
so hanging on tonight was a milestone in itself.

The Lynx next game is Monday night in Hamilton. Their next home
game is Saturday June 16th at 4:00pm against Cincinnati Kings
which is probably their best chance for a win as that team
also has no wins and one tie this season.

Rocket Robin
robing@eol.ca

[BringBackTheBlizzard]

Always interesting to compare the attendance number according to people at the game to the official number. 150 according to the PDL website:

http://pdl.uslsoccer.com/stats/2012/2883632.html

sometimes leagues that struggle to attract fans factor in players and officials to keep the number from ever being low double or single digits.

[Rocket Robin]

Always interesting to compare the attendance number according to people at the game to the official number. 150 according to the PDL website:

http://pdl.uslsoccer.com/stats/2012/2883632.html

sometimes leagues that struggle to attract fans factor in players and officials to keep the number from ever being low double or single digits.

Well this will blow your mind because I know you're so interested in league finances:
Attendance didn't really matter.

The 'gate' was actually $0.00 as each game I've been to so far, there are no tickets sold and no ticket takers.

[BringBackTheBlizzard]

That's definitely an eye-opener. My guess as an outsider looking in would be that they make their money mainly on soccer camps (but that's probably getting more difficult for them now a bit like the annual school trip game due to their lack of visibility in mainstream media terms) and/or registration fees for the super y league teams.