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OTTAWA FURY & W LEAGUE:

FURY FIND FIVE IN OPENER TO DOWN EXPANSION HAMILTON

27 May 2006

In sunny warm weather, in front of a small crowd of about 200, the Ottawa Fury started their 2006 W-League season at Keith Harris Stadiumwith a 5-0 victory over the expansion Hamilton Avalanche, who were playing only their second-ever W-League game.

The Fury came out of the starting blocks looking nervous, and they took time to settle. The Avalanche on the other hand came out strongly and gave the Fury a few frights in the opening 20 minutes. Indeed the Fury could easily have been behind by a goal And , when the Fury did threaten, goalkeeper Stacey Van Boxmeer was quick off her line to stymie the Fury offense. She played a strong game throughout, despite the lopsided scoreline.

However, as the Fury began to shake off the rust and find their rhythm, they came more and more into the game. Fury players Annie Hamel, Carrie Kveton, and Stacey Stocco all came close to scoring. , Carmelina Moscato increasingly exerted a calming influence in the defence. Finally, it was Carrie Kveton, one of the Fury newcomers, who broke the deadlock in the 32nd minute. She showed her goal scoring instincts by cleverly finishing off a through pass. Eight minutes later, Annie Hamel slotted home a second with a fine shot into the top corner of the net beyond the reach of Van Boxmeer. The Fury kept this lead 2-0 at half time.

In the second period, the Avalanche defended resolutely as the Fury, although still not back to their best form, took charge of the match. A goal in the 52nd minute from the Australian newcomer Stocco, and two goals from Leah Robinson in the 60th, a penalty, and at 68th minutes, gave the Fury a comfortable 5-0 victory in their opening game. As the Fury machine returns to its well-oiled best, they will be a difficult team to beat. This is all the more so, as the Fury elected to sit out Allison kelly and Diana Matheson, perhaps resting them for the Sunday game and giving the newcomers a chance to strut their stuff.

Taryn Swiatek gained the shutout for the Fury, stopping 5 shots. Anjelica Hodgson, a graduate defender of the Fury’s development program, made her W-League debut in the 70th minute. The Fury outshot the Hamilton Avalanche by 15 shots to 5.

Ottawa Team- (G) Swiatek (D) - Gayle, Moscato, Consolante (Hodgeson 70), Avner (M)- Robinson, Stocco (F) Wilkinson, Parker, Kveton (Vermulen 70), Hamel (Outerbridge 79:25)

Hamilton Team- (G) Van Boxmeer (D) Francis, Devries, Pekrul, Smith (M) Greco, Edgar, MacDougall, Friedland, Barsalona (F) Bisnott