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State pro notes: Ricketts' late brace extends Toronto FC's win streak

05/12/2017, 10:00pm CDT
By ERIC ANDERSON
Tosaint Ricketts

With Sebastian Giovinco and Jozy Altidore leading the line, Tosaint Ricketts (UW-Green Bay) can be a bit overshadowed in the Toronto FC attack.

But on Wednesday night, with Giovinco out of the lineup due to a heel injury and Toronto struggling against the host Columbus Crew, Ricketts came up with two goals in the final 10 minutes to give the visitors a stunning 2-1 victory. (Watch highlights below)

They were the first goals of the season for the 29-year-old Ricketts, who had three goals in 11 regular-season appearances and two more in six playoff matches last season after signing with Toronto FC in July.

Midfielder Raheem Edwards played a key role in both late goals. On the first one, the 21-year-old chipped in a ball from the right flank that Ricketts headed down and past Crew goalkeeper Zack Steffen to the far post in the 81st minute.

Then in the 90th, Edwards was wide left when he played a cross into the box that Víctor Vázquez touched on for Ricketts, who ran onto the ball at the far post just in front of Columbus' Waylon Francis and finished to give Toronto the first five-game winning streak in the club's 11-year history.

On Twitter: @TosaintRicketts

  • Drew Conner (UW) made the first start of his MLS career Saturday, logging 75 minutes at right back as the Chicago Fire tied the Los Angeles Galaxy 2-2 in Carson, Calif. "I thought Drew played really well," Fire veteran midfielder Dax McCarty told the Daily Herald of the second-year pro. (Read full article) "First start on the road in L.A. against some really, really talented attacking players in (Giovani) dos Santos and (Gyasi) Zardes and (Romain) Alessandrini. I thought he held his own really well. Probably saved a goal for us in the first half on the cross where he stayed with the runner and put a lot of pressure on him." On Twitter: @Drew_Conner1
  • Charlie Lyon (Marquette) stopped all three shots he faced for the clean sheet as Orange County SC posted a 4-0 victory over Los Angeles Galaxy II in a USL match Saturday night in California. Lyon has two shutouts and a 1.20 goals-against average for Orange County (3-1-1). On Twitter: @Charlie_Lyon_
  • Maegan Kelly (Marquette) came off the bench in the 83rd minute of Sunday's match for FC Kansas City and made an immediate impact for the National Women's Soccer League team. Moments later, Kelly helped set up Erika Tymrak's equalizer as the home side earned a point with a 1-1 draw against the Orlando Pride. (Watch highlights below) The goal came off a set piece, as FC Kansas City's Yael Averbuch fired a free kick from the right side off the left post. The ball ricocheted into the 6-yard box, where both Tymrak and Kelly got a foot on it before Tymrak was able to touch it past Pride goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris. On Twitter: @maegskell
  • Striker Andrija Novakovich (Muskego) scored as the Reading Under-23 team held off visiting Sunderland 3-2 on Monday in a Premier League 2 season finale at Madejski Stadium. Novakovich, who was heavily involved in the Royals' attack throughout, pounced on a poor back pass by George Brady, rounded keeper Michael Woud and scored to give Reading a 3-0 lead in the 65th minute. The 20-year-old finished with nine goals and three assists in 18 appearances (16 starts) in league play for the Royals (6-12-4), who are 11th in PL2 Division 1 and likely will be relegated to Division 2 for next season. Novakovich has 16 goals in 31 appearances (29 starts) in all competitions this season for the Reading Under-23 team, which will face PL2 Division 2 champion Swansea City in the Premier League Cup final on Monday night at the Liberty Stadium in Wales. On Twitter: @AndrijaNovakov3
  • Defender Sam Brotherton (UW) was an unused sub for Sunderland in the loss to Reading on Monday. The young Black Cats also will play for silverware next week, as they play host to Portuguese side FC Porto in the Premier League International Cup final Wednesday at the Stadium of Light. On Twitter: @SamBrotherton96

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