Carolina's Prinz Named Player of the Week
July 1, 2002 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) News Release
ATLANTA (Monday, July 1, 2002) - Carolina Courage forward Birgit Prinz has been selected as the WUSA's Player of the Week for the week ending June 30, 2002. Prinz had an incredible eight-point week, scoring three goals and two assists, while vaulting Carolina into a two-way tie for first.
In Carolina's 3-1 win at New York on June 26, Prinz scored twice in the first 22 minutes and then created the game winner in the second half. Teammate Hege Riise served a one-touch drop pass back to the top of the penalty box where Prinz rushed through and scorched a shot into the upper left corner of the net to put Carolina up 1-0 in the 14th minute. Eight minutes later, Prinz received a cross in the Power's box from teammate Venus James. Prinz lost her defender and jumped uncontested to knock in her second goal of the game. She also had the assist on Riise's game-winner in the 79th minute.
On Saturday, Prinz tallied her sixth goal of the season and added an assist for good measure. She beat San Diego goalkeeper Jaime Pagliarulo with a low shot to the left after receiving a flick from Tiffany Roberts in the 29th minute to make the score 2-0. In the 68th minute, the German national team star sent a long ball from midfield that Danielle Fotopolous put away for the final goal of a 3-0 win over the Spirit.
"The thing about Birgit's goals," reflected Courage coach Marcia McDermott, "is they are all fun to watch. She is on the receiving end of some outstanding creativity from her teammates and she is deadly and accurate with each of those opportunities."
Since Prinz's debut on June 1, the Courage has been on a tear, going 5-1-1. The German striker has registered a goal or an assist in every game she has played. In seven matches, Prinz has recorded six goals and four assists, and is now tied for eighth in WUSA scoring with 16 points. Her seven-match point streak ties the record for longest point scoring streak in WUSA history.
Prinz received 10 first place votes and two second place votes for 22 points, outdistancing Philadelphia's Marinette Pichon (13 pts.), Washington's Mia Hamm (10 pts.), Washington's Carrie Moore (2 pts.) and Boston's Kristine Lilly (1 pt.).
Women's United Soccer Association Stories from July 1, 2002
- Newcomers Making an Impact - WUSA
- Carolina's Prinz Named Player of the Week - WUSA
- Charge Continue Home Field Dominance - Philadelphia Charge
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