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Foudy Scores as Spirit Defeats Charge, 1-0

May 20, 2002 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
San Diego Spirit News Release


SAN DIEGO (Sunday, May 19, 2002) - The San Diego Spirit pulled off one of the biggest wins in club history tonight, vaulting from 7th place to a tie for third with a 1-0 victory over the previously undefeated Philadelphia Charge. Spirit captain Julie Foudy scored the first goal of her WUSA career, heading in a cross from Shannon MacMillan just before halftime as the Spirit recorded its first-ever win over the Charge.

With some great defense led by Joy Fawcett and Rhiannon Tanaka the Spirit moved to 2-2-2 (8 points) while the Charge, who remained in first place, dropped to 4-1-0 (12 points). It was the first time the Charge had scored less than two goals in a game this season.

"In all fairness, if you look at it, we are 2-2-2 and we've really only played one bad game," said Spirit head coach Carlos Juarez. "I think all of the other games we could have won, but our goal is to get consistent. We tied the champions and we beat the first place team, we are on the right track."

The Charge owned the first 20 minutes of the match as two scrambles in front of the Spirit net forced San Diego defenders to clear two balls out of the goal box. The Spirit took over the momentum in the last 25 minutes of the half, culminating in Foudy's 43rd minute strike. The first dangerous chance for the Spirit came in the 23rd minute as Shannon MacMillan put Zhang Ouying behind defense in penalty box with a well-weighted pass, but with a player on her back, Zhang's shot lacked the steam to challenge Charge goalkeeper Melissa Moore. MacMillan had a similar chance in the 28th minute, but Heather Mitts got enough body on MacMillan to force a sliding shot, which bounced off Moore for a corner kick.

Zhang had another chance in the 34th minute, running onto a bouncing ball behind the defense, but Jenny Benson recovered just in time to get a foot on the shot and Moore was able to make the save even though she was wrong-footed on the deflection.

Jaime Pagliarulo picked up her first shutout of the season and as always was stellar in goal. She pushed away a Benson cross in the 40th minute to thwart a Charge attack and made key saves throughout the match.

With just two minutes left in the half, Zhang was yanked to the ground Benson, who had a fistful of her shorts, and the Spirit was awarded a free-kick about five yards from the right sideline. MacMillan bent a beautiful cross into the middle where Foudy rose above a pack of defenders to snap a header under Moore and into the lower left corner. It was Foudy's first goal in 25 WUSA matches dating back to last season.

"I am happy for her, when Julie plays well, we play well," said Juarez. "That goal was huge for her confidence and for us to get a good start in the game. People have been saying that she is not scoring goals, but that's not her job. If she can give us one or two game winners a year, I will be happy."

Said Foudy: "Miracles do happen. It's about time."

The Spirit almost scored again in stoppage time of the first half as Zhang's cross from the right wing bounced to Shauna Rohbock in the left side of the penalty area. She plowed through player and had a one-on-one with Moore, but she shot from a bad angle and Moore pushed it outside the right post.

Tanaka did a stellar job on Charge star Kelly Smith, hounding the English international for the entire match and finally getting a yellow card caution in the 87th minute when she cut down Smith once too often.

Philadelphia had a great chance just four minutes into the half as Spirit defender Amy Sauer, who otherwise played a solid match, misplayed a cross, giving half-time substitute Marinette Pichon a sitter, but she shot wide right from 10 yards out as she fell to the turf.

As they did in the beginning of the match, the Charge dominated the beginning of second half. In the 55th minute, substitute Tara Koleski headed a corner kick off the goal line, and from there, the Spirit held tough despite constant pressure from the talented Charge team.

In the 79th minute, Liu Ailing worked herself free at the top of the penalty area with a nice shimmy dribble, but hit her shot right at Pagliarulo. One minute later, the ball popped free inside penalty area to San Diego native Mandy Clemens, but Pagliarulo made a big save, coming off her line to smother the shot.

In the 87th minute, Philadelphia had once last golden chance as Smith lined up for a free kick from just outside the right corner of the penalty area in a similar spot where she scored a brilliant free kick against Atlanta several weeks ago, but she spun her shot right into the hands of Pagliarulo.

The Spirit travels to New York for its next match on Saturday, May 25, taking on the New York Power, a team it destroyed 6-1, on April 20 in a match that set numerous WUSA records. The game will be broadcast live nationally on PAX TV at 1 p.m. PT. The Spirit has earned two draws in its two road games so far this season.

"We certainly had a good game against them last time," said Foudy. "But we're focused on knowing that they are a good team. We can't just go in there thinking that we broke it open last time. We've been playing well away from home all season long. We've been preaching consistency this year and here's a good opportunity for us to show it."



Women's United Soccer Association Stories from May 20, 2002


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