Charge Earn Tie Versus Washington
March 20, 2002 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
Philadelphia Charge News Release
Clemens scores twice in 3-3 deadlock
RICHMOND, VA (March 20) - Mandy Clemens scored twice and Kerry Connors added a goal as the Philadelphia Charge played to a 3-3 tie against the Washington Freedom in a scrimmage Wednesday at rain-soaked Striker Park. The Charge, who are 2-0-1 this pre-season, are in Richmond, VA training with other East Coast WUSA teams until Monday, March 25.
Philadelphia will again take the field on Saturday against the Carolina Courage starting at 3 p.m. at the University Richmond Stadium, kicking off a WUSA tripleheader.
Washington, which played without U.S. National Team member Mia Hamm, was led by rookie forward Abby Wambach, who scored twice. Wambach was the second overall pick in the February WUSA Draft.
This was the first contest for the Charge against a non-collegiate squad this pre-season.
"We played well today," Charge head coach Mark Krikorian said. "We were missing a few key defensive players to injury, but we still showed signs of having a powerful offense. It was hard to get a true reading of where we are at because of the poor weather."
Clemens has tallied seven goals in the pre-season for the Charge, who have scored a total of 18 goals.
After a scoreless first half, the potent Charge offense finally got on the board early in the second when newcomer Marinette Pichon fed Clemens with a pass down the right side of the field. Clemens gathered the ball and dribbled it towards net, where she beat the Washington netminder far post.
Wambach and Jackie Little answered with a pair of goals to give the Freedom a 2-1 lead. Wambach's tally came on a scramble in front of the net. Charge rookie defender Karyn Hall made two nice blocks on the near post on the play, but Wambach eventually blasted the ball home.
Philadelphia tied the game later in the half when Connors, who was acquired earlier in the pre-season from New York for defender Kalli Kamholz, registered her second exhibition goal with the Charge.
Then, after Wambach headed home her second goal, Clemens scored on a penalty kick to provide the final margin of victory.
The Charge return to Villanova Stadium on Saturday, March 30 to take on the University of Virginia in the club's final pre-season game of the season. Admission is free to all pre-season Charge games at Villanova Stadium.
• Discuss this story on the Women's United Soccer Association message board...
Women's United Soccer Association Stories from March 20, 2002
- Courage Victorious Again In Preseason Scrimmage - Carolina Courage
- Charge Earn Tie Versus Washington - Philadelphia Charge
- Atlanta Beat Individual Tickets Go On Sale This Saturday, March 23 - Atlanta Beat
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
