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CyberRays vault from 7th to 4th with 2-0 victory over Carolina

June 26, 2003 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
San Jose CyberRays News Release


SAN JOSE (June 25, 2003) – The longest winless streak in CyberRays' history came to a sudden halt tonight when two players who had not scored all season got their first goals in a 2-0 victory over the Carolina Courage at Spartan Stadium.

Keri Sanchez, playing her first season in her hometown after two years with the Boston Breakers, and rookie Betsy Barr connected for goals ending four straight games without a victory.

The CyberRays, now 5-6-1 with 16 standings points, jumped from seventh place into a three-way tie for fourth. They are only four points behind first-place Boston, which defeated the New York Power 2-1 earlier in the evening.

``The league race is going to go right down to the wire,'' said CyberRays coach Ian Sawyers, whose team has nine games to go in the regular season.

Sanchez, obtained in a draft-day trade with Boston last February, scored the earliest goal of the CyberRays season when she tallied in the ninth minute. Tisha Venturini-Hoch forwarded a ball up the right side, which Pretinha saved on the end line, then laid it back to Sanchez who fired to the far post from 12 yards out.

``The goal felt just great,'' Sanchez said. ``We're on a stretch where we need to win some games. Scoring that early helps you relax and be confident. In earlier games I thought we played well, but we just weren't getting those goals.''

Barr's goal came in the 87th minute at the other end of a game the CyberRays dominated, out-shooting Carolina 18-9 and taking the edge in shots on goal 7-4. Barr headed in the rebound of a Pretinha shot that Carolina goalkeeper Kristin Luckenbill couldn't control.

``It was so exciting, being my first goal,'' said Barr, who played for the University of Portland team that won the NCAA soccer championship last December. ``I've been wanting one for awhile.''

The CyberRays now face the San Diego Spirit, one of two other teams with 16 points, in back-to-back games. The first is at 5 p.m. Sunday at San Diego's Torero Stadium, and the rematch is 7 p.m. Wednesday back at Spartan Stadium.

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