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CyberRays open season with 1-0 shutout of Philadelphia Charge

April 6, 2003 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
San Jose CyberRays News Release


SAN JOSE, CA – The San Jose CyberRays have never been beaten by Philadelphia at home and Saturday night was no different.

Newcomer Katie Barnes scored her first WUSA goal and the Rays' first goal of the season to give San Jose a 1-0 victory at Spartan Stadium in the opening game of the 2003 WUSA season for both clubs. The Charge drop to 1-4-2 all-time against the CyberRays.

Barnes, playing in just her second professional season, was picked up off waivers from the Carolina Courage exactly one week ago. Her first training session with her San Jose team was just this Monday.

Barnes immediately proved herself to be an important last-minute pickup when she scored in the 32nd off an assist from Brazilian teammates Pretinha and Katia. The shot would be the only one to get past Philadelphia keeper Melissa Moore, a finalist for 2002 Goalkeeper of the Year, after leading the league with a 1.00 GAA, who otherwise had an outstanding night.

The night was marked by the introduction of new faces for San Jose, who started four players not on their roster last year. In addition to Barnes, defender Keri Sanchez took regular starter Diane Alagich's place as Alagich was on national team duty for Australia, and rookie Betsy Barr and Mandy Clemens started in the midfield. Clemens played for Philadelphia the last two seasons and was named college player of the year twice at Santa Clara.

San Jose traded for Clemens in the offseason, giving Philly a first-round draft pick in exchange. This is the first time Clemens has faced her old teammates.

San Jose also played without defender Kelly Lindsey, out with a knee injury, and World Cup veteran Tisha Venturini-Hoch, who is nursing a knee contusion, did not come in until the 66th, replacing Barnes.

Philadelphia did not start midfielder Kelly Smith, whose season ended last year due to an ACL injury. Smith did come in to replace Anne Makinen in the 62nd. Rookie starting forward Deliah Arrington, Philly's first-round draft pick out of Clemson, left the field after colliding with San Jose defender Thori Bryan. Arrington was replaced by 20-year-old Pavlina Scasna, the first national from the Czech Republic ever to play in the league.

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