CyberRays to New York to avenge loss to Power

June 9, 2003 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
San Jose CyberRays News Release


SAN JOSE (June 9, 2003) – Six days after losing 2-0 to the New York Power at Spartan Stadium, the CyberRays will be in Uniondale, N.Y., for a rematch and a chance to get three points back. This time they will have to do it without three key players – goalkeeper LaKeysia Beene and defenders Thori Bryan and Brandi Chastain – who have been called to national team duty.

Week 10 in review: Scoring slump continues New York had what was reported to be the poorest defense in the WUSA, but it was adequate to shut out the CyberRays on Sunday. That made two straight shutout losses for the CyberRays, who rank last in the league in scoring.

Coming in Week 11: Let's take a mulligan

Another shot at New York, this time on the Power's home turf. A victory would vault the CyberRays back over the fifth-place power to who-knows-where at the top of the WUSA standings, which is razor close at the top of the table. Season series: 0-1-0. All-time series: 6-1-1, (2-0-1 in New York). Top scorers: CyberRays – Pretinha (3g+1a=7pts); New York – Christy Welsh (4g=8pts), Tiffeny Milbrett (3g+2a=8pts).

CyberRays-New York series notes: Sunday's 2-0 New York victory over the CyberRays was the CyberRays' first loss to New York. ... These consecutive games against New York mark the first time the CyberRays have ever played the same team twice in a row. It will also happen again this season when the CyberRays play at San Diego on June 29 and then host the Spirit three days later in Spartan Stadium on July 2. ... New York's Tiffeny Milbrett is one of two players to get a hat trick against the CyberRays. Hers came in a 4-3 loss to the CyberRays on June 15 last season. ... New York's head coach is Tom Sermanni, who was a CyberRays assistant last season. Tom's wife Alison was the CyberRays' finance manager. Key matchup: CyberRays forward Katia vs. New York central defender Christie Pearce. The CyberRays' 2002 Offensive Player of the year is off to a very slow start, just one goal in nine games, and needs a break-out game.

Ian Sawyers on playing New York again: ``We've got to play much better. They didn't do anything tactically to beat us (Sunday). We handed them the game.''

Game notes

New York-CyberRays connections: New York midfielder Sheryl Salisbury, who is from New Castle, Australia, and CyberRays defender Dianne Alagich from Adelaide, Australia are teammates on the Australia national team and are expected to represent their country in the World Cup this fall. Both players were coached by New York coach Tom Sermanni when he was national coach in their homeland. ... New York midfielder Shannon Boxx and CyberRays LaKeysia Beene and Kelly Lindsey were all teammates on the 1999 Notre Dame team that finished second in the NCAA tournament.

Looking ahead to the Women's World Cup: The five U.S. players in the list below hav been called to national team duty for Saturday's USA-Ireland match in Salt Lake City. All likely will miss the CyberRays-New York game the same day. The two teams have as many as 12 players who may play in the World Cup this fall for their respective home countries:

CyberRays (home country) New York Power (home country)

D Dianne Alagich (Australia) F Tiffeny Milbrett (USA)

GK LaKeysia Beene (USA) D Christie Pearce (USA)

D Thori Bryan (USA) M Joanne Peters (Australia)

D Brandi Chastain (USA) M Anita Rapp (Norway)

F Katia (Brazil) M Sheryl Salisbury (Australia)

F/M Pretinha (Brazil)

M Sissi (Brazil)

No offense: Sunday's 2-0 shutout of the CyberRays was the second consecutive game in which the CyberRays have been held scoreless – the first time the CyberRays have ever failed to score in consecutive matches. The last CyberRays goal was scored in the 61st minute of a 2-0 victory over Philadelphia on May 24. The CyberRays have played 219 scoreless minutes since. The CyberRays' eight goals this season are the fewest of any team in the WUSA. The next lowest-scoring teams, the San Diego Spirit and Philadelphia Charge, have scored 12 goals each, half again as many as the CyberRays. Katia's struggle: Last season she led the WUSA with 15 goals, but this season Katia has only one goal through nine games. Katia also had only one goal through the CyberRays' first nine games of 2001, their championship season. In 2001, Katia finished with seven goals, second to now-retired Julie Murray's nine. Katia's second goal of 2001 came in the 10th game. Last season Katia had six goals through nine games. Sunday's game against New York was the second time this season she did not start. She replaced Sissi at the beginning of the second half.

Boof's back: Defender Kelly Lindsey, better known to her teammates and CyberRays fans as ``Boof,'' started her first game of 2003 Sunday against New York. Boof was a fixture at central defender during the CyberRays' first two seasons, but she was slow in coming back from off-season knee surgery this year. Her only previous appearance this season was April 27 in San Diego when she subbed in for Thori Bryan in the 78th minute, ending Bryan's consecutive minutes-played streak at 4,232 minutes. Boof played right back against New York and went 82 minutes before the CyberRays' need for offense prompted coach Ian Sawyers to put in Keri Sanchez for her.

Yellow card jeopardy: By playing Sunday without drawing a yellow card, Amanda Cromwell erased her yellow-card accumulation this season. WUSA players who draw yellow cards in three straight games or accumulate a total of four must serve a one-game suspension. Four games without a yellow card wipes a players' slate clean. CyberRays players have been booked 11 times this season, most in the league.

CyberRays injury update

Defender Dianne Alagich (L knee sprain) is out.

Quote of the week

``I think overall, based on the mistakes that we made and the chances we didn't capitalize on, we deserve to lose the game. It's foolish for us to keep telling ourselves that we're the better team. We better accept responsibility.''

- Ian Sawyers after loss to New York.



Women's United Soccer Association Stories from June 9, 2003


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.

OurSports Central