
CyberRays announce 2003 schedule including 3 Saturday night matches
December 19, 2002 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
San Jose CyberRays News Release
SAN JOSE, Calif. (Dec. 19, 2002) â The San Jose CyberRays will open their third WUSA season with a Saturday evening home game April 5, 2003 against the Philadelphia Charge.
The match against Philadelphia is the first of three Saturday evening games that open the CyberRays' 2003 season, which also includes five home matches in the team's traditional Sunday afternoon time slot coinciding with the onset of summer.
``The Saturday night matches eliminate the springtime schedule conflicts that many of our families face between youth league games for their children and afternoon CyberRays matches,'' said Marlene Bjornsrud, CyberRays general manager. ``We're excited that we will be able to offer this alternative, particularly because the games involved are against three opponents with great fan appeal.''
The Philadelphia Charge is one of only two teams to have advanced to the WUSA playoffs in both of the league's seasons, and the season-opener will be the first meeting between new CyberRays forward Mandy Clemens, obtained from Philadelphia in an off-season trade, and her old teammates. The Charge is led by the WUSA's highest-scoring front line tandem of Marinette Pichon of France and Kelly Smith of England.
What would Easter be without a little Hamm? The CyberRays' opener will be followed two weeks later by a 7 p.m. Saturday match April 19, against Mia Hamm and the Washington Freedom, the CyberRays' most popular opponent. At 7 p.m. Saturday, May 10, the CyberRays will host the defending Founders Cup champion Carolina Courage with 2002 WUSA Defensive Player of the Year Danielle Slaton, a San Jose native and former Santa Clara Bronco.
The WUSA's 2003 schedule rotation will bring Carolina and Philadelphia to San Jose twice along with the Boston Breakers.
In addition to Washington, which visits San Jose just once during the regular season, the CyberRays' home schedule features one visit each by the New York Power, Atlanta Beat and San Diego Spirit.
The CyberRays' local television package as well as the WUSA's national broadcast schedule will be announced later, and game times are subject to change to accommodate TV requirements.
San Jose CyberRays 2003 schedule
DAY DATE OPPONENT TIME (PT)*
Saturday April 5 PHILADELPHIA CHARGE 7 p.m.
Saturday April 19 WASHINGTON FREEDOM 7 p.m.
Sunday April 27 @ San Diego Spirit 5 p.m.
Saturday May 3 @ Atlanta Beat 4 p.m.
Saturday May 10 CAROLINA COURAGE 7 p.m.
Saturday May 24 @ Philadelphia Charge 4 p.m.
Saturday May 31 @ Boston Breakers 4 p.m.
Sunday June 8 NEW YORK POWER 3 p.m.
Wednesday June 11 @ Atlanta Beat 4 p.m.
Saturday June 14 @ New York Power 4 p.m.
Saturday June 21 @ Washington Freedom 1 p.m.
Wednesday June 25 CAROLINA COURAGE 7 p.m.
Sunday June 29 @ San Diego Spirit 5 p.m.
Saturday July 5 @ New York Power 4 p.m.
Sunday July 13 SAN DIEGO SPIRIT 3 p.m.
Sunday July 20 PHILADELPHIA CHARGE 3 p.m.
Sunday July 27 BOSTON BREAKERS 3 p.m.
Wednesday July 30 @ Carolina Courage 4 p.m.
Saturday Aug. 2 @ Washington Freedom 4 p.m.
Wednesday Aug. 6 ATLANTA BEAT 7 p.m.
Sunday Aug. 10 BOSTON BREAKERS 3 p.m.
PLAYOFFS
Saturday Aug. 16 WUSA Semifinals TBA
Saturday Aug. 23 WUSA Founders Cup III TBA
Home games listed in CAPS
* -- Game times subject to change.
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Women's United Soccer Association Stories from December 19, 2002
- CyberRays announce 2003 schedule including 3 Saturday night matches - San Jose CyberRays
- Power Announces 2003 Schedule - New York Power
- Spirit Releases 2003 WUSA Schedule - San Diego Spirit
- Beat Announces 2003 Season Schedule - Atlanta Beat
- Courage Announces 2003 Schedule - Carolina Courage
- WUSA Announces 2003 Schedule - WUSA
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
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