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CyberRays win opener, get week off

April 7, 2003 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
San Jose CyberRays News Release


SAN JOSE (April 7, 2002) – The CyberRays opened their third WUSA season with a 1-0 victory over the Philadelphia Charge on Saturday. It's the second consecutive season the CyberRays have opened with a victory, making their all-time opening-day record 2-1.

Week 1 in review: Newcomer Barnes leads CyberRays to win

Forward Katie Barnes, claimed off waivers from the Carolina Courage just a week before, got a surprise start and scored the game's only goal in the 32nd minute Saturday to beat Philadelphia. The Charge remains winless in four trips to Spartan Stadium.

Coming in Week 2: Just what the doctor ordered: time off

Thanks to the schedule-makers, the CyberRays have an open date for the second weekend of the season, which may be good since several players had sniffles following the cold opener Saturday. Thus we will take an advance peek here at Week 3 of the season – the Washington Freedom vs. the CyberRays in Spartan Stadium – which, also thanks to the schedulers, features what may legitimately be called the WUSA's oldest rivalry (the CyberRays-Washington inaugural game in 2001 was played a week in advance of the rest of the WUSA openers). The CyberRays-Washington match at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, April 19 is the opener of the first WUSA-MLS doubleheader at Spartan Stadium, which includes the San Jose Earthquakes vs. the Kansas City Wizards in the 7 p.m. nightcap. Season series: First meeting. All-time series: 3-3-0. Top scorers: CyberRays – Katie Barnes (1g = 2pts); Washington – Mia Hamm (1g, 1a = 3pts). Training schedule this week at West Valley College: Off Monday. 3 p.m. Wednesday-Friday (about two hours each day). Closed scrimmage Saturday.

CyberRays-Washington series notes: The CyberRays and Washington Freedom played the WUSA's inaugural game April 14, 2001, won by Washington 1-0 on a penalty kick in the 70th minute by Pretinha. ... Each team in this series is 2-1 against the other at home. ... This will be the only game of the three to be played this season in Spartan Stadium.

Key matchup: Washington forward Mia Hamm vs. CyberRays central defender Brandi Chastain. Teammates on the U.S. national team, their WUSA confrontations are always special. Out much of the early part of last season, Hamm has been on a scoring tear since she returned and had the game-winner Saturday against the 2002 champion Carolina Courage. Brandi had a solid game in shutting down Philadelphia's Marinette Pichon in week 1.

Coach Sawyers on Washington: ``With the firepower of Mia Hamm and Abby Wambach, we'll be struggling to keep Washington in check. It will be a great contest.''

Game notes

Alagich returns: Defender Dianne Alagich missed Saturday's game against Philadelphia because she was playing for the Australian national team in its Oceania qualifying match against Samoa. Australia blasted the Samoans 19-0 and Alagich played 75 minutes. No, she did not score. Bummer.

CyberRays newcomers: Saturday's starting 11 for the CyberRays included four players who were not on the roster in 2002. They included forward Mandy Clemens, obtained from Philadelphia in an off-season trade; defender Keri Sanchez, obtained in a draft day trade from the Boston Breakers; draft pick Betsy Barr in midfield; and forward Katie Barnes, claimed off waivers the March 26.

Ex-Washingtonians: The CyberRays' roster includes three players who have also played for the Washington Freedom. They are Pretinha, who played the 2001 season for Washington before coming to San Jose in a trade; Michelle French, who also played the WUSA's first season in Washington before a trade; and Ann Cook, who played for the CyberRays in 2001, went to Washington in the trade for French, and returned to San Jose this season after being waived by the Freedom. French became the first WUSA player to score against a former team with her goal April 21, 2001 in Washington in a 2-1 loss to the Freedom.

Tough at home: The CyberRays have won their last three home games dating back to July 27, 2002, when they defeated the New York Power 4-1. Last season the CyberRays were 7-3-1 in Spartan Stadium and for their entire history they are 14-6-2 at home.

Weatherwise: It was 53 degrees at kickoff of the CyberRays-Philadelphia Charge match, the first night opener in team history. That tied last season's April 21 match against the Washington Freedom in RFK Stadium as the coolest weather in which the team has played. The game in Washington was played in occasional rain while there were partly cloudy skies in San Jose.

Tish rests: Saturday's game was only the second in Tisha Venturini-Hoch's WUSA career that she was available for play but did not start. Tish came into the game in the 66th minute to relieve Katie Barnes. The other time she didn't start was May 12, 2002 against San Diego. She entered that match in the 89th minute. Tish missed two games in 2001 with a broken wrist.

Thori doesn't: Once again, Thori Bryan played the full 90 minutes for the CyberRays. She has never missed a minute of any of the CyberRays' 45 matches, which gives her the league record for playing time. While she is not the only WUSA player to participate in every minute of every game, the fact that the CyberRays won the championship in 2001 and went to overtime in the league final to do it means Bryan has played more minutes than any WUSA player, a total of 4,065 minutes.

Beene keeps it close: LaKeysia Beene recorded her 13th WUSA shutout against Philadelphia, one of two WUSA keepers to earn a shutout on opening day. The other was the Atlanta Beat's Briana Scurry, who now has 14 for her WUSA career.

CyberRays injury update

Dawn Greathouse (R elbow strain) out; Kelly Lindsey (R knee) questionable; Tisha Venturini-Hoch (R knee contusion) probable.

Quote of the week

``I didn't know how to celebrate. I just grabbed Brandi and lifted her up in the air, and then it occurred to me: `I just picked up Brandi Chastain!' ‘'



Women's United Soccer Association Stories from April 7, 2003


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