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Lynx ink two backstops


SeanKeay

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Lynx ink two backstops

March 23, 2004 - (TORONTO, ON) – Two very talented goalkeepers have been inked by the Toronto Lynx Soccer Club for the 2004 season as they began official training today at the Soccer Centre. Former Atlanta Silverbacks’ net minder, Bryheem Hancock and former Ottawa Wizards and Charlotte Eagles goaltender, Richard Goddard will compete for the starting position this season as they strut their stuff for the Lynx coaching staff.

Hancock is making the Lynx his second A-League stop after spending the previous two seasons with the Atlanta Silverbacks. As the starter in 2003, Hancock led the A-League in saves with 114 while holding opponents to 1.64 goals against in 25 matches. Hancock also ranked in the top 10 in the A-League in games and minutes played recording 2 shutouts in 36 career games. “I am very excited to play in Toronto,” says Hancock. “I know that I have big shoes to fill replacing Theo Zagar but I hope that the fans will support me. I know that the Lynx have always relied on the goalkeeper and this year will be no exception. I expect to perform well and help us reach the playoffs.”

Before turning pro in 2002, Hancock had an outstanding career with the University of Connecticut, backstopping the Huskies to the NCAA Championship in 2000, when he was named to the NCAA All-Tournament Team. He also earned a Big East All-Rookie team selection in 1998 and crowned his career with the Big East Conference Goalkeeper of the Year Award and an All-American selection in 2001.

Richard Goddard, coming from the Charlotte Eagles comes with equal talent as he led the Eagles to the playoffs in 2002 when he started 27 of 28 regular season matches, accumulating a 10-13-4 record and a 1.59 GAA with 3 shutouts. He was also a member of the Trinidad and Tobago National Team in 2002 during Gold Cup qualifying.

Goddard moved to the sidelines in 2003 where he was the head coach of the Ottawa Internationals U18 Girls in the Ligue Elite Soccer du Quebec (LSEQ) and assistant/goalkeeper coach for the University of Ottawa Women’s team that finished second in the CIS.

“I am very happy for an opportunity to play again after a year off,” said Goddard. “I am thankful to get a chance to be seen by the Lynx and excited that Coach Wilde has given me a chance to prove myself this season.”

Goddard also had a highly successful run with the Ottawa Wizards of the CPSL leading them to a 20-2 record and the CPSL Title and Oz Optics League Cup Championship in 2001. He spent his collegiate career with Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester where he was an NAIA All-American, NCCAA All-American and 2-time NAIA Region IX Player of the Year. Goddard has also competed for Trinidad and Tobago in Olympic Qualifying, the Pan-American Games and Central American and Caribbean Games.

Coach Wilde is grateful to have two experienced goalkeepers from the A-League to replace the talented Theo Zagar who has joined the Rochester Raging Rhinos. Because of the importance of this position, Wilde made the unusual call use two foreign spots to ensure that he had the best talent for the job.

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Well, it does mean that we have to play more Canadians on the field which is good (since we obviously can't play both keepers) but it is difficult to believe that there isn't room for at least one good Canadian keeper on this team. The Impact have Sutton & Olivieri and we have two foreigners

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Well, it does mean that we have to play more Canadians on the field which is good (since we obviously can't play both keepers) but it is difficult to believe that there isn't room for at least one good Canadian keeper on this team. The Impact have Sutton & Olivieri and we have two foreigners

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I had wondered the same thing about Goddard, but unless the press release is wrong, it appears he holds down one of the foreign spots. And if I have my sums right the 5 foreign spots for the Lynx would now be accounted for (these two, plus the Bermuda striker, an Englishman & a Scot).

Ah well. At least we have Ali, Igor & Andres.

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Its tough to get a feel on how this team will do this year. There are so many new players that we just don't know what kind of impact that the will have in the a-league. However, you have to wonder about the signing of a keeper who played for the Atlanta Silverbacks. They were pretty bad last year weren't they?

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That's what I was thinking Sean (that this guy could be pretty good too), but I'm going to miss Theo Zagar. Will the name 'Bryheem Hancock' fit in the Super Theo song? I suppose it will, but somehow it's not going to feel right. The Ultras (at least most of us) liked Theo and Theo liked us. I'm certain that we won't be using 'Bryheem for Canada'.

How many weeks now until Rochester?

Blair

quote:Originally posted by SeanKeay

He was kinda like thier Theo Zagar. He was a top keeper in the ncaa, so i think he might be very good. And from what the Atlanta fans say, he is good too

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Not only did the Toronto Star run a short report on these signings, they ran it twice! The same two-sentence bit appeared at the end of the article on the Milan vs. Deportivo match (page E8) and then again in the Sports Digest column (page E11).

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The Hamilton Spec also ran an article on this

Toronto Lynx pen goalkeepers Hancock and Goddard

The Toronto Lynx signed soccer goalkeepers Bryheem Hancock and Richard Goddard yesterday.

Hancock, the former 'keeper for the Atlanta Silverbacks, and Goddard, who played for the Ottawa Wizards and Charlotte Eagles, will compete to replace Theo Zagar, who left the Lynx to join the Rochester Raging Rhinos.

Hancock is making his second A-League stop after playing the previous two seasons with the Silverbacks, where he led the A-League in saves with 114 in 2003, holding opponents to a 1.64 goals-against average in 25 games.

Before turning pro, Hancock played for the University of Connecticut, leading the Huskies to the NCAA championship in 2000.

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