Courage Victorious In WUSA Season Opener
Published on April 14, 2002 under Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
Carolina Courage News Release
San Diego, CA. (April 13, 2002) The Carolina Courage opened its 2002 WUSA season with a 2-1 win over the San Diego Spirit before a crowd of 5,166 at Torero Stadium in San Diego, California. It was the first West Coast victory in Courage franchise history.
Playing for the first time without the services of defenders Carla Overbeck and Staci Burt, the Courage opened the WUSA season where it ended last season, but with 5 new faces in the starting eleven.
The Courage had the first scoring opportunity only minutes into the match. Unni Lehn ran unmarked into the Spirit penalty box, but was wrong-footed by Danielle Fotopoulos' pass. Goalkeeper Jaime Pagliarulo, quick off her line, ran out to snare the loose ball.
The Spirit nearly went ahead in the 17th minute when Mercy Akide hit a rocket that scorched off of Courage goalkeeper Kristin Luckenbill's fingertips and crashed off the crossbar. Luckenbill jumped up off the turf and smothered the ball as it bounced down off the pipe.
Five minutes later, Shannon MacMillan challenged from long distance with a similar blast. Again the shot caromed down off the crossbar for a scrambling Luckenbill to collect.
The chances kept coming for San Diego. Shannon MacMillan was sent through by Mercy Akide, but Luckenbill stonewalled MacMillan from point-blank range.
Despite San Diego's first half domination, the Courage scored the only goal of the first half. In the 36th minute, Danielle Fotopoulos drilled a low show through the Spirit goalmouth that slammed into the upper thigh of defender Margaret Tietjen and into the San Diego goal. It was the first goal of the year for the Courage's top scorer from last season.
The Spirit started the second half exactly as they finished, putting the Courage under tremendous pressure immediately. The breakthrough came through in the 57th minute. Julie Foudy saw Chinese teammate Zhang Ouying streaking into the Carolina half and put a perfect ball through. The Spirit forward took a couple of touches on her way toward the Courage goal before tucking her shot under Kristin Luckenbill for the equalizer.
The Courage weathered a barrage of shots from the Spirit, before grabbing the winning goal in the 87th minute. Danielle Slaton, pushing forward down the left flank, rifled a low line drive across the goalmouth to her charging Courage teammates. San Diego's Joy Fawcett, Slaton's defensive partner on the U.S. National Team, attempted to block the drive, but inadvertently directed it into her own goal.
"You make your own luck," said Courage Head Coach Marcia McDermott, following the game. "When you strike hard low shots at the frame, they're difficult to handle and, many times, good things happens. âLucks' (Kristin Luckenbill) made some important saves for us tonight."
Luckenbill faced seven shots and recorded six saves, many of them from close range.
The Courage will next take on the San Jose CyberRays April 27th at Spartan Stadium, in the first leg of a doubleheader with the U.S. National Team. The match will be televised live on CNNSI at 7:30 pm. The Courage will play its historice home opener on May 4th against the Atlanta Beat at the brand new State Capital Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina. For ticket information, log onto the Carolina Courage website at www.carolinacourage.com or call the Courage ticket office at (919) 573-7626.
Women's United Soccer Association Stories from April 14, 2002
- Courage Victorious In WUSA Season Opener - Carolina Courage
- Atlanta Beat Drops Season Opener 2-0 to the Philadelphia Charge - Atlanta Beat
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