CyberRays @ Atlanta Beat opens 3-game road trip

Published on May 15, 2003 under Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
San Jose CyberRays News Release


GAME: CyberRays (3-2-0, 9 points, third place) vs. Atlanta Beat (2-1-2, 8 points, fifth place).

SITE: Herndon Stadium, Atlanta.

TIME: 4 p.m. PDT Saturday.

GAME NOTES: Complete game notes are posted in PDF form at http://www.sjcyberrays.com/news/gnotes_atl030517.pdf.

CyberRays-Atlanta series notes: This will be the second match between these two teams in Atlanta in the last three games. On May 3 the CyberRays took a 1-0 decision on a Brandi Chastain goal for their first-ever victory in Atlanta. ... The May 3 victory was the first CyberRays road victory in 363 days dating to a 1-0 victory May 5, 2002 in New York. ... Atlanta is the only team that holds a series edge over the CyberRays in Spartan Stadium, 2-1-0. ... Three CyberRays – LaKeysia Beene, Thori Bryan and Brandi Chastain – as well as Atlanta's Cindy Parlow and Brianna Scurry have been called to the U.S. Women's National Team this week for its World Cup tune-up match against England on Saturday in Birmingham, Ala. Immediately after that game they will be driven by limousine to Atlanta for the CyberRays-Atlanta Beat WUSA match. One or more of these players could play 180 minutes of soccer the same day.

Brazilian breakout: Saturday's 3-1 victory over the Carolina Courage was a Brazilian show from beginning to end. The CyberRays three Brazilian players – Katia, Pretinha and Sissi – each had a goal in the same game for the first time since they have been on the team together. Altogether the Brazilians combined for eight points (3g+2a) of the 10 credited to the CyberRays. The fifth game of the season is the latest first goal for Katia in her WUSA career. She scored in the second game of 2001 and the third of 2002 (also against Carolina). Pretinha scored the first goal in WUSA history – against the CyberRays – for the Washington Freedom in the inaugural game on a penalty kick and for the CyberRays in their 2002 opener. Sissi had only one goal in each of her first two WUSA seasons.

How to win a spot on the bench: Beginning with the May 3 match in Atlanta, midfielder Sissi has been used off the bench in the second half rather than as a starter, which she had been in 42 of her previous 44 WUSA games. The CyberRays are 2-0 since the switch, and all four of the goals they've scored in those games have been with Sissi on the field. She was directly involved in three of those goals.

Season starts: The CyberRays' 3-2 start this season is their best ever.

Beene playing tough: Goalkeeper LaKeysia Beene has had a solid start to her season with a pair of shutouts in the CyberRays first five games. With a WUSA career total of 14 shutouts, she ranks second only to Atlanta's Brianna Scurry, who has 15, in that category. Beene has faced 33 shots in her first five games this season, more than any keeper except Carly Smolak of the New York Power (who has played six games), but she has saved a league-high 29 shots for a save percentage of 87.9, best in the WUSA.

Game change reminder

The CyberRays-San Diego Spirit game originally scheduled for July 13 in Spartan Stadium has been rescheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 2. The original date conflicts with the USA-Brazil game which is expected to take 11 players from the combined CyberRays-San Diego lineups. Please note this change on your office schedules.

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Women's United Soccer Association Stories from May 15, 2003


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