Courage Take Out Spirit, 3-0
June 29, 2002 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) News Release
CARY, NC - Birgit Prinz had a goal and an assist as the Carolina Courage defeated the San Diego Spirit 3-0 Saturday evening at SAS Stadium. With the victory, Carolina (8-2-3, 27 pts.) remained tied with Philadelphia for first place in the WUSA. San Diego (2-7-3, 7 pts.) extended its winless streak to six games.
Carolina opened the scoring in the 20th minute when defender Danielle Slaton headed in a Hege Riise corner kick for her third goal of the season to make it 1-0.
Prinz scored her sixth goal in seven games when she beat San Diego goalkeeper Jaime Pagliarulo with a low shot to the left in the 29th minute to make it 2-0. Rookie Katie Barnes sent a ball in to Tiffany Roberts who flicked the ball to Prinz for the score. The German national team star has now registered a goal or an assist in each of her seven WUSA games since joining the team in late May.
Although Carolina was up 2-0 at halftime, San Diego put in a strong showing in the first half, as the Spirit and Courage were almost even on the statistical front after the first 45 minutes. San Diego continued to remain upbeat at the start of the second half, and forward Zhang Ouying almost put the Spirit on the board in the 63rd minute. The Chinese international got behind the Carolina defense, but her shot banged off the crossbar.
Carolina's Danielle Fotopoulos put the match away in the 68th minute with her team-high eighth goal of the season. Prinz sent a long ball in from midfield that glanced off San Diego defender Fan Yunjie to Fotopoulos. The U.S. national team forward promptly ripped a 16-yard shot past an onrushing Pagliarulo.
San Diego has never beaten Carolina in five attempts as the Courage leads the all-time series 4-0-1.
San Diego was missing two regular starters as forward Shannon MacMillan didn't make the trip because of a strained right foot and defender Rhiannon Tanaka missed her second consecutive outing with a hamstring strain.
Women's United Soccer Association Stories from June 29, 2002
- Beat Falls 3-1 to the First Place Charge - Atlanta Beat
- Charge Keep Share of First - WUSA
- Courage Take Out Spirit, 3-0 - WUSA
- Courage Blanks Spirit, 3-0 - San Diego Spirit
- Charge Cool Off Beat With 3-1 Win - Philadelphia Charge
- Hamm Leads Freedom Past Power, 4-1 - WUSA
- San Jose, Boston Battle to Tie - WUSA
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