Toronto Lynx shake up roster
Toronto Lynx
June 7, 2005
With the Canadian transfer window now open for the month of June, the Toronto Lynx have made several roster changes looking to improve on a 0-7-4 start to the season. The Lynx have looked into their past to return two outstanding players on loan for the remainder of the season from MISL clubs. Midfielder, Edgar Bartolomeu, returns to the Lynx after spending the 2004/05 indoor season with the Philadelphia Kixx, while Robbie Aristodemo joins the Club from the MISL runner up, Cleveland Force.
Bartolomeu is a former MLS player with the New York/New Jersey Metrostars that showed tremendous quality with the Lynx last season. The tenacious midfielder/defender is already securing his spot in Head Coach, Hubert Busby Jr.'s starting team, playing all 90 minutes of two matches over the weekend.
Former USL Rookie of the Year and Lynx Most Valuable Player, Robbie Aristodemo, has also returns to Toronto after spending the first 3 seasons of his professional career with the Lynx. Aristodemo played 8 games with the Seattle Sounders in 2004 before being released. Aristodemo is a tremendous possession midfielder whose creativity with the ball and work rate will surely help the Lynx offensively. A native of Etobicoke, Aristodemo has earned 7 caps for Canada over his playing career.
The Lynx have also added Trinidadian defender, Nigel Henry, in an attempt to solidify a defense that has allowed a USL First Division worst 23 goals. Thus far, the addition has proved positive as the Lynx allowed only 1 goal in two matches over the weekend with Henry in the lineup. The towering Henry, brings plenty of USL First Division experience, playing with Hershey and Montreal before spending the previous season with the Charleston Battery before his release last month.
"Obviously we felt the need to shake things up a bit because of the lack of results," explained Busby. "However, more importantly, I wanted to bring in character players who care about this club and I believe we have signed three great professionals that will help with experience that has been lacking thus far."
In order to make room on the roster for the new signings, the Lynx have released striker, Conrad Smith and midfielders, Shawn Faria and Winston Griffiths. Smith, from Trinidad and Tobago, recorded 1 goal and 1 assist in 6 matches with the Lynx while, Griffiths had 1 goal in 4 matches. Faria had yet to see action this season due to injury.
