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CyberRays in thick of race after downing Carolina 2-1

July 30, 2003 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
San Jose CyberRays News Release


CARY, N.C. (July 30, 2003) – Clawing their way to within two points of a playoff berth tonight, the CyberRays downed the Carolina Courage 2-1 on the road to pull into sixth place in the WUSA.

The victory, just the third on the road this season for the CyberRays, sends the team to Washington for Saturday's nationally televised game on PAX TV with a chance to climb as high as fourth by the end of the weekend.

The CyberRays, 7-8-3 with 24 standings points, swept the three-game season series against Carolina, also is 7-8-3, 24, and thus are ahead of the Courage in the league standings based on head-to-head competition. Both the New York Power and San Diego Spirit have 25 points, but those teams have only two regular season games left each, one less than the CyberRays. After Washington, the CyberRays return to Spartan Stadium next week to play the first-place Atlanta Beat on Wednesday night and Boston Breakers on Aug. 10.

``It was a really gutsy performance,'' coach Ian Sawyers said. ``It wasn't by any means our best, but it was gutsy. (Goalkeeper) LaKeysia (Beene) came up big for us. Carolina had a game like some we've had when we played well but came up on the wrong end. Fortunately we bagged a couple of goals tonight.''

Playing without leading scorer Pretinha, out for the remainder of the season because of knee surgery, and injured team captain Brandi Chastain, the CyberRays got the game's first goal from a most unlikely player.

Australian defender Dianne Alagich, a three-year WUSA veteran, got her first professional points in the 46th minute when she launched a 22-yard strike from beyond the penalty box on the left side into the upper right corner of the net. Carolina equalized two minutes later on a header by Danielle Slaton, a former Santa Clara star, off a Brooke O'Hanley corner kick.

Then Katia, playing through a scoring slump this season, came through with her fourth goal of the season – and second game-winner against Carolina – when she headed a long Michelle French cross from the left corner in the 63rd.

``This game gives us momentum, and that's exactly what we want,'' Sawyers said. ``We were unlucky last week (in a 1-1 tie with Boston), but anything positive is going to be great for us on this trip.''

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