Toronto FC set a rather dubious record during its first season in Major League Soccer last year.
Maurice Edu scored a goal in the 78th minute against Chicago on July 7. It would be more than two months and nearly 10 full matches before Toronto FC would score again. The wait between goals would seem to stretch on for the rest of the summer for the Toronto FC faithful that routinely cram into BMO Field.
It was the middle of summer in Toronto when Edu scored against the Fire and it wouldn't be until the early autumn when Miguel Canizalez would score in the second minute of action against Columbus on Sept. 22.
In all, Toronto's scoring drought spanned 824 minutes -- by far an MLS record for futility -- and nine complete games. It's a record that Toronto FC is hoping to avoid this season.
"Last year was a very difficult year for me and for everyone on the team," said Toronto FC striker Jeff Cunningham. "It was a low point in my career. It was as frustrating a season as I've ever been through."
Cunningham, who was acquired last May in a trade with Real Salt Lake, scored three goals in 16 games after his arrival north of the border. He is hoping that this season will be different and Toronto will be able to generate more of an offensive attack.
"We need to start the season on a positive note," Cunningham said. There's a lot of pressure on us to score goals after a disappointing season last year. It's very important for us to get out of the gates quickly and get some good results and get our confidence."
Cunningham will be a focal point for the Toronto attack this season. TFC, which had a league-low 25 goals a year ago, needs for Cunningham to score. A one-time Jamaican national team member, Cunningham is fourth on the league's all-time goalscoring list, with 96 career goals in 175 regular-season game. He won the MLS Golden Boot with a league-leading 16 goals in 2006 for RSL.
Cunningham is off to a solid start in the preseason, but the effects of last season sometimes linger just below the surface.
"You're taught not to get too high or not to get too low," Cunningham said. "That's very difficult when things are not going well. The team isn't scoring goals and it's your job to score goals. It's very frustrating to keep that balance when things are not going well, so why it's so important for us to get some good results early in the season."
The addition of head coach John Carver should help, Cunningham said.
"He has some good ideas. There's a lot more competition for the top 11 spots," Cunningham said. "I think they've made some good additions to the team and that will make everyone have to raise their game. It gives everyone a fresh start to earn their place on the team."
Toronto captain Jim Brennan has noticed a difference in the team's outlook.
Andrew Miller is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
