Charge Hit the Road
June 17, 2002 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
Philadelphia Charge News Release
Their season-long occupation of first place in jeopardy, the Philadelphia Charge shut out the Boston Breakers, 1-0, on Saturday night at Villanova Stadium to ensure yet another week at the top of the WUSA. Entering Saturday's game with Carolina, Atlanta and 2001 champions San Jose all within striking distance of the Charge, Philly 'keeper Melissa Moore picked an ideal time to record her third shutout of the season. And, minus the services of star midfielder Kelly Smith for the rest of the season, the Charge attack received another boost from French forward Marinette Pichon, who tallied the game's only goal in the fifth minute. The win improved top-ranked Philadelphia to 6-1-2 (20pts), keeping the team two points ahead of second-place Carolina and setting up a battle for the top spot on Wednesday night.
The Charge, who downed Boston 4-2 back on May 4, scored at the earliest point of a game all season when defender Heather Mitts played a long ball up the middle during the fifth minute. Pichon shrugged off a nearby Breakers' defender and deftly beat goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc through her legs for the game's lone tally.
Pichon's goal was her fifth of the season, as she moved into a tie with Smith for tops on the team in scoring (11pts). She has now recorded each of Philadelphia's last three goals and four of the team's last five, dating back to the 3-1 win in Carolina on May 25. Moore was again sensational in net for the Charge, making four saves including one with time running out for her third shutout win of the season. She lowered her league-leading GAA to 0.78, as Philly improved to 5-0-3 in its last eight at home dating back to last year. Moore also tops the WUSA in winning percentage (77.8) and wins (6) and her three shutouts are second best in the league. Boston's (2-5-4, 10pts) best chance of the game came during injury time at the end of the second half. Breakers defensemen Kate Sobrero took a shot from eight yards out, which was saved by Moore. The shot was generated off a rebound from a restart. The Charge improved to 4-0 when they score first and 3-0 when leading at halftime this year. They also improved 5-0-3 in their last eight home games dating back to last season.
Upcoming Opponents
After concluding its three-game homestand 1-0-2, Philadelphia will now take to the road for a couple of contests this week. Wednesday night the team will be in Carolina to battle the Courage for the right to first place. A Carolina (5-1-3, 18pts) win would mark the first time this season in which the Charge would not be in first place. Later in the week, Philadelphia will be looking to avenge its lone loss thus far this year, when it travels to California for a rematch with San Diego (2-6-2, 8pts) on Sunday night. The Charge will not return home to Villanova Stadium until the following weekend, when they host the Atlanta Beat Saturday, June 29. The first 5,000 kids 14 and under will receive a free Charge Autograph Book.
Philly is 1-0-0 this season against Carolina, defeating the Courage 3-1 on May 25. The game was a bit of a coming out party for Marinette Pichon, as she scored twice and earned WUSA Player of the Week honors for the first time.
Carolina, which is 2-1-1 at home this season, defeated Atlanta 3-1 Saturday night. The Courage are led by Danielle Fotopoulos, whose 14 points on six goals and two assists are good for fourth in scoring in the league. Hege Riise's 11 points are second on the team. Much of the team's early season success can be credited to the steady play of goalkeeper Kristin Luckenbill. Her 1.22 gaa is fourth in the league while she ranks second-behind only Moore-in winning percentage (72.2).
With their three goals this weekend, the Courage moved past the Charge in team offense to now pace the WUSA with 1.89 goals per game. Philadelphia's 1.78 ranks second. Defensively, the Charge continue to impress. Their 0.78 goals allowed per game ranks well ahead of second-ranked San Jose's 1.20 and third-ranked Carolina's 1.22.
Midfielder Liu Ailing leads the Charge in career scoring against the Courage with seven points on three goals and one assist. Mandy Clemens has also scored three times in games against Carolina, for a total of six points. Hege Riise has been the Courage's most successful player in games against Philly, as she has two goals and one assist for five 0 points on her career.
Philadelphia is 3-1-0 all-time versus Carolina and was the first-and only team thus far-to defeat the Courage at the new SAS Stadium.
CHARGE NEWS & NOTES:
Moore-velous
Melissa Moore is making a case for WUSA Goalkeeper of the Year honors with her show stopping performances in the first nine games this season. Moore set a new single season wins mark on Saturday, improving her record this year to 6-1-2. She also lowered her season's goals-against average to 0.78 in registering her third shutout of the season. In her last three games, she has allowed only one goal.
Pichon Leading the Charge Offense
Charge forward Marinette Pichon pulled into a tie with Kelly Smith for the team lead in points on Saturday night, scoring the team's lone goal in a 1-0 win over the Boston Breakers. Pichon and Smith each have 11 points and with Pichon's next point she will move past Smith, who is lost for the season with an ACL tear. The goal was Pichon's team-leading fifth to go along with her one assist. The Frenchwoman, Pichon, has also scored the last three goals and four of the last five for the Charge dating back to 5/25 versus the Carolina Courage.
Slow Starters, Fine Finishers
The Charge finally recorded a goal in the first 15 minutes of a game this season. Marinette Pichon's goal in the fifth minute against the Boston Breakers not only proved to be the game-winner but was also the quickest goal the Charge have scored this season. The Charge have tallied an impressive five goals in the game's final 15 minutes this season and have 10 second-half goals.
Playing with the Lead
The Charge are a tough team to mount a comeback against, maybe the toughest in the league. After scoring the game's first goal, Philadelphia is 11-1-0 all-time. The Charge are also 9-0 all-time when carrying a lead into halftime.
Home is where the Wins are
This season the Charge are 3-0-2 at Villanova Stadium, having outscored their opponents 9-4. Dating back to last season, the Charge are 5-0-3 in their last eight as the host and 7-1-4 in their last 12. The club's lone loss over that 12-game span came to the Breakers on July 19. All-time Philadelphia is 8-3-4 at home.
Women's United Soccer Association Stories from June 17, 2002
- San Diego Spirit Weekly - San Diego Spirit
- Battle for First Place Wednesday - WUSA
- Chastain Named Player of the Week - WUSA
- Charge Hit the Road - Philadelphia Charge
- San Diego Spirit Trades For Defender Anna Kraus - San Diego Spirit
- Amanda Cromwell Elevated to Active Roster; Beat Trades Defender Anna Kraus to San Diego - Atlanta Beat
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