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CyberRays seek to clinch season series against Philadelphia

May 19, 2003 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
San Jose CyberRays News Release


SAN JOSE (May 19, 2003) – There is only one WUSA opponent the CyberRays have never defeated on the road, and Saturday the CyberRays will try to end that streak at Philadelphia's Villanova Stadium. The match is the second of three straight on the road. The next home game is 3 p.m. Sunday, June 8 against the New York Power and former CyberRays assistant coach Tom Sermanni.

Week 7 in review: Atlanta makes most of single goal The Atlanta Beat's new German player, Conny Pohlers, struck for a goal in the seventh minute, and then Atlanta's defense stiffened to save the victory despite playing most of the game with only 10 players. At 3-3, the CyberRays dropped into fourth place because of the loss.

Coming in Week 8: Chance to clinch season series After a 1-0 defeat of Philadelphia in the April 5 season-opener, the CyberRays can clinch the season series with a victory Saturday. Head-to-head play is the first tiebreaker should teams be deadlocked in the final season standings. Season series: 1-0-0. All-time series: 4-1-2, (0-1-2 in Philadelphia). Top scorers: CyberRays – Pretinha (1g+3a = 5pts); Philadelphia – Marinette Pichon (3g+1a = 7pts). This week's training schedule at Evergreen Valley College: Please note the change in training site so that the team can practice on artificial turf. Today off. Tuesday-Thursday 1:30 p.m. Friday travel to Philadelphia. Saturday game at Villanova Stadium.

CyberRays-Philadelphia series notes: The CyberRays won the first game of the 2003 season series 1-0 in the April 5 season-opener at Spartan Stadium. ... Katie Barnes scored the game's only goal in the 32nd minute. ... Philadelphia is the only team the CyberRays have not beaten on the road. The CyberRays' only loss in Villanova Stadium was in their first trip there May 6, 2001 when they lost 3-2. ... Last season the CyberRays and Philadelphia played to 0-0 and 1-1 ties in Philly. ... This is the first of two straight games the CyberRays will play on artificial turf. They play at Boston on May 31. ... The 12 goals the CyberRays have scored in the seven games against Philadelphia are the second-most they have scored in any series. The CyberRays have scored 14 goals in seven games against the New York Power.

Key matchup: CyberRays forward Katia vs. Philadelphia defender Lorrie Fair. Katia, last season's WUSA-leading scorer, is overdue for a breakout game in 2003 after recording only one goal in the first six games.

Ian Sawyers on playing at Philadelphia: ``The size of the field and the (artificial) surface forces us to examine what kind of system we will play and the personnel we'll use on the field. Philadelphia has got quality players and Marinette Pichon is always dangerous. We always give them the respect they deserve.''

Game notes

First ejection: When Atlanta's Kylie Bivens was ejected Saturday after picking up her second yellow card of the game in the 36th minute, it was the first time in the CyberRays' 50 WUSA games that a player from either team had been disqualified. Yellow card jeopardy: Three players – Katia, Brandi Chastain and Betsy Barr – were booked with yellow cards Saturday against Atlanta putting Katia and Barr in jeopardy of one-game suspensions for yellow-card accumulation. Should either be booked Saturday at Philadelphia, she would be suspended for the May 31 game at Boston. Chastain's yellow card slate would have been wiped clean had she completed the Atlanta game without a booking. Now she has two. WUSA players must serve a one-game suspension if they receive yellow cards in three consecutive games or accumulate a total of four. However, a player who plays four consecutive games without a card has her slate wiped clean.

Few chances: Atlanta's shut out of the CyberRays was the second time this season the CyberRays have been held scoreless. The CyberRays had only one shot on goal – a long shot by Brandi Chastain in the 64th minute – which tied the CyberRays' record low SOG for a game. The previous time it happened was June 22, 2002, also at Atlanta's Herndon Stadium, when the CyberRays lost a 2-1 game. The CyberRays' single shot on goal in that match was a Tisha Venturini-Hoch goal.

Few corner kicks: Atlanta took only one corner kick Saturday, which was the fewest by a CyberRays opponent since Philadelphia took one corner in a scoreless tie June 1, 2002 at Philadelphia.

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

CyberRays injury update

D Thori Bryan (R knee sprain) is probable.



Women's United Soccer Association Stories from May 19, 2003


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