Fleeting's Two Goals Lead Spirit Past Power, 4-2

Published on June 21, 2003 under Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
San Diego Spirit News Release


SAN DIEGO - The San Diego Spirit got two goals and one assist from Julie Fleeting, and two assists from Aly Wagner, in a highly entertaining 4-2 victory over the New York Power that easily could have gone the other way. Both teams took 19 shots in the end-to-end match and Tiffeny Milbrett hit the left post and crossbar in the second half. With the win, the Spirit moves to 4-3-4 (16 points) while New York dropped to 5-6-1 (16 points).

The Power lost leading scorer Christie Welsh in just the 11th minute after she collided with Spirit goalkeeper Jaime Pagliarulo after the Spirit had turned the ball over deep in their own territory, leading to a shot from Milbrett that sailed over the cross bar. Welsh had to leave the match with an injury to her lower left leg. One minute later, the Spirit scored as a ball skipped to Wagner in the right side of the Power penalty box. She drove at the goal and fired a low, hard cross that Power defender Jaclyn Raveia miss-kicked, sending it spinning back towards her goal and just over the goal line.

The Power tied the game in the 35th minute after a scramble in front of the Spirit net led to a corner kick. New York took it short and Margaret Tietjen lifted a cross into the penalty box. The ball eventually bounced to Anita Rapp, whose shot from 12 yards out was kick saved by Pagliarulo. The ball popped out to the top of the penalty area for Emily Janss, who hit a solid first-time volley through traffic and past the screened Pagliarulo.

The Spirit went ahead in the 40th minute as Julie Foudy played a short pass to Fleeting on the right sideline. Fleeting beat Australian Sheryl Salisbury to the end line and hit a beautiful near post cross for Zhang Ouying, whose diving header from four yards out skidded into the far post. It was her first goal of the season and first WUSA score in almost a full calendar year.

The Spirit dominated most of the first half, but the Power had numerous dangerous chances after the break. Still, it was the Spirit that would get the first goal of the second half, again courtesy of Wagner. Fleeting actually started the movement, flicking heading a long ball down Wagner on the left flank before circling back to the far post. Wagner raced down the wing and lifted a perfect cross to the Scottish international, who beat Raveia and Power goalkeeper Saskia Webber to the ball for a diving header that bounced back across the goal into the left side netting.

The Power pulled a goal back in the 70th minute after Milbrett played a great pass to Anita Rapp in the left side of the penalty area and the Norwegian smacked a left-footed shot into the right corner for a world-class finish.

With the Power pushing for an equalizer, Fleeting put the game away in the first minute of stoppage time, running onto a long pass from Wagner before dribbling around Webber and slotting her shot home from seven yards out. She had hit the side netting on a similar play just nine minutes earlier. Fleeting was denied a hat trick by the referee after she was called for a foul while heading in a cross in the 15th minute.

Pagliarulo played a great game for the Spirit in dealing with constant pressure in the second half, making made eight total saves while punching clear at least three dangerous crosses. Webber, who was equally busy, made nine stops.

The hard luck Milbrett hit the left post in the 74th minute after a nifty dribble in the penalty area then smacked a shot off the bottom of the crossbar right at the end of the match.

Defender Christie Pearce played a great match for the Power, and got forward numerous occasions to create danger for her team, almost scoring in the 50th minute, only to be denied by Pagliarulo. Zhang played extremely well in the midfield for the Spirit, firing five shots that included her goal. The Spirit returns home next weekend to face the San Jose CyberRays in a match that kicks off at 5 p.m. The first 4,000 fans will receive Aly Wagner Bobbleheads.

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Women's United Soccer Association Stories from June 21, 2003


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