Charge Make Playoffs for Second Straight Year
Published on August 5, 2002 under Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
Philadelphia Charge News Release
The Philadelphia Charge wrapped up a playoff berth and homefield advantage for the semifinal round of the WUSA playoffs this past week. On Saturday afternoon the club clinched a spot when the Carolina Courage defeated the San Jose CyberRays, 4-1. Later that evening the Charge went on to defeat the San Diego Spirit 3-1 and with Washington's 3-2 win over the Atlanta Beat on Sunday, Philadelphia secured a home playoff game on Saturday, August 17 at either 1:30 p.m. or 4 p.m. presented by got milk?.
The win against the Spirit was the first in four games for the Charge, who are 1-2-1 over that span. Zhao Lihong set a franchise record with three assists in the game, becoming the first player in club history to record more than one assist in a contest. Stacey Tullock, Erica Iverson and Marinette Pichon all scored for Philadelphia, which set a new league record for points in a season with 38.
Earlier in the week, the Charge visited the San Jose CyberRays and went away losers, 2-0. It was the worst defeat of the year for the club, which played without five of its regulars. Heather Mitts, who also missed Saturday's game, was out with a hip pointer, while Pichon missed her second straight game with a toe injury. Head coach Mark Krikorian rested starting goalkeeper Melissa Moore, defender Erica Iverson and Zhao.
Upcoming Opponents
The Charge conclude their 2002 regular season this week with a pair of games. With four points, Philadelphia would clinch the best record in the league and its first WUSA regular season championship. Last year the Charge finished fourth and were eliminated in the semifinal round of the playoffs by the Atlanta Beat.
On Wednesday, the Charge will meet the defending Founders Cup champion CyberRays for the final time this regular season. San Jose is 1-0-1 against Philadelphia this year is are in desperate need of a win to remain in the postseason hunt. With two games left, the CyberRays trail the fourth-place Beat by three points. If the CyberRays do catch the Beat, and the Charge finish atop the standings, these two teams could meet in the semifinals at Villanova Stadium.
On Saturday, Philadelphia wraps up its regular season where it started - in Atlanta. The Charge take on the Beat at 4 p.m. and the game can been seen nationally on PAX. Philadelphia has won both meetings against the Beat this year by a combined 5-1 score. The Charge won the season opener 2-0 on April 13 and then took the June 29 encounter at home 3-1. If the standings remain the way they are now, the Charge and Beat would meet for a second straight year in the semifinal round.
NEWS & NOTES
Charge Seek to Start Run of Philadelphia Champions With a very successful regular season heading towards the playoffs, the Philadelphia Charge are attempting to not only win Founders Cup II but also start a run of championships for the Philadelphia region. The Charge host a semifinal game on Saturday, August 17 at Villanova Stadium and, with a win, would travel to Atlanta for the league's championship game on Saturday, August 24. If the Charge win it all, they hope to jump start a string of championships that would continue with the Eagles winning the Super Bowl and then moving on to the 76ers in the NBA and Flyers in the NHL.
Magic Numbers
The Charge have already clinched homefield advantage for the semifinal round on Saturday, August 17. The team will next try to finish with the best record in the league and to do so the team's magic number is four points. So if the second-place Courage win out, the Charge need only four points to capture the top spot. Carolina is currently two points behind Philadelphia, which holds the tiebreaker against the Courage.
Zhao Sets Team Record
Zhao Lihong set the team record for assists in a game during this past Saturday's 3-1 win over the San Diego Spirit. Zhao registered an assist on all three goals, becoming the first player in team history to register more than one assist in a game. After sitting out Wednesday game in San Jose, Zhao has a goal and seven assists for nine points in her last seven games. For the season, the Chinese national team star has two goals and eight assists for 12 points. The eight assists easily sets a Charge single-season record, eclipsing Jenny Benson and Laurie Schwoy's mark of four last season.
Daily Charge Updates
After the regular season concludes, the Charge Public Relations Department will be giving daily updates leading up the semifinal game on Saturday, August 17. The updates start on Sunday after the team's regular-season finale in Atlanta and will run until the Charge win Founders Cup II or are eliminated.
Women's United Soccer Association Stories from August 5, 2002
- Three Down, One to Go - WUSA
- Two Losses put San Diego out of Playoff Hunt - San Diego Spirit
- Beat Looks to Clinch Playoff Berth on Wednesday - Atlanta Beat
- Hamm Named Player of the Week - WUSA
- Charge Make Playoffs for Second Straight Year - Philadelphia Charge
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