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Large Crowds Should Continue to Flock to Torero Stadium

June 30, 2003 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
San Diego Spirit News Release


A Torero Stadium crowd of 6,220, the fourth largest in franchise history, was in attendance on Sunday to watch the Spirit beat the CyberRays. The figure marked the largest gathering of the season; and the Spirit expect the crowds to continue to flock to Torero Stadium for the club's final four home games. The combination of the Spirit being in playoff contention and three exciting opponents coming to town makes for a fun time at the University of San Diego this summer. Soccer superstar Mia Hamm and the Washington Freedom play twice in San Diego on July 16 and August 9. In between Hamm's two appearances, San Diego will host New York on July 23 for Shannon MacMillan Bobblehead night. The defending champion Carolina Courage visit San Diego on August 3, in what could be a possible battle for playoff position, for Spirit Team Calendar night.

QUICK GLANCE AT THE SPIRIT

NEXT MATCH: Wed., July 2, 7 p.m. PT, vs. San Jose CyberRays, Spartan Stadium, San Jose, No TV
LAST MATCH: Sunday, June 29, 2-1 win over San Jose @ Torero Stadium.
RECORD: 5-3-4, 19 pts., 3rd place
LEADING SCORER: Julie Fleeting, 7 goals, 2 assists = 16 points, tied for 7th in WUSA
INJURIES: Shannon MacMillan, Torn R ACL, Out

NEXT ON THE SLATE: Wednesday, July 2, vs. San Jose CyberRays, Spartan Stadium, 7 p.m. PT

The Spirit go North to meet the CyberRays in the final game of the home-and-home and season series. The game was originally going to be played on July 13, but with national team commitments pending, the game was switched to this Wednesday. There is no love lost between the teams and a tough match is expected after the events of Sunday's contest in San Diego. The team begins a rigorous three-game road trip with the match in San Jose. A full match preview on Tuesday, July 1.

JULY'S "IN THE SPIRIT WITH JULIE FOUDY" AIRING ON CHANNEL 4 SAN DIEGO

The latest installment of the popular "In the Spirit with Julie Foudy" show is airing on Channel 4 San Diego. The July edition has player profiles on Jaime Pagliarulo, Andrea Alfiler, "Cribs" with Shannon MacMillan, Stupid Human tricks with Kim Pickup and June highlights. "In the Spirit" airs every Thursday and Sunday at 6 p.m. For additional information on the show and rebroadcasts of Spirit games, please visit www.4sd.com.

"AIR SCOTLAND" IS ON ANOTHER STREAK

Julie Fleeting, who scored on Sunday, has a two-game goal streak, for the second time this season. She has two consecutive game-winning goals. 'Air Scotland' leads the team in scoring with seven goals and two assists and has scored in six of her last nine games. Fleeting is tied for seventh in the WUSA in scoring and was the Spirit's nomination for WUSA Player of the Month.

SPIRIT ADVISORY BOARD TAKES IN SPIRIT MATCH

The members of the newly formed San Diego Spirit Advisory Board were the VIP guests of the team for Sunday's game against San Jose. The members took part in a pre-game skills clinic conducted by Spirit head coach Omid Namazi, and players Andrea Alfiler, Jenni Branam and Ronnie Fair. In addition to the clinic, the group enjoyed the Fun Zone, the VIP Tent and an exclusive post-game player autograph session on the field. The Spirit Advisory Board was created in April to continue the progress of professional women's sports in San Diego and to help benefit young girls and boys.

FOUDY TO BE FEATURED ON U.S. OLYMPIC GOLD PROGRAM ON KNSD 7/39

Spirit and U.S. National Team captain Julie Foudy will be the featured guest on NBC's U.S. Olympic Gold program. The half-hour show, hosted by Summer Sanders, will chronicle Foudy's Olympic career, both past and present. The show will air on Sunday, July 13, 4 p.m. on KNSD Channel 7/39.

SPIRIT SNAPSHOTS

San Diego is off to its best start with 19 points after 12 games... Fleeting has a two-game goal streak, for the second time this season...She has two consecutive game-winning-goals...San Diego has a two-game winning steak, and two-game home winning streak, and is two games over the .500 mark for the second time in team history...With the win, San Diego won the season series with San Jose for the first time...San Diego is 13-0-0 when leading at the 75th minute mark... Joy Fawcett became the fourth Spirit player in club history to be ejected from the game...Jenni Branam earned her first career win...Aly Wagner scored her first goal since May 24...Six caution cards combined set a club record... Two ejections combined tied a club record.

SAN DIEGO SPIRIT WINGS PAGE TWO SAN DIEGO SPIRIT WINGS

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

San Diego will travel to San Jose (July 2), Philadelphia (July 5) and Atlanta (July 9) before returning to the cozy confines of Torero Stadium to face Mia Hamm and the Washington Freedom on July 16.

CALENDARS

MATCHES

7/2 - v. San Jose CyberRays, @ San Jose, 7 p.m., No TV
7/5 - v. Philadelphia Charge, @ Philadelphia, 4 p.m., No TV
7/9 - v. Atlanta Beat, @ Atlanta, 4 p.m., No TV
7/16 - v. Washington Freedom @ San Diego, 7 p.m., Live on Channel 4 San Diego

TRAINING

7/1 - Travel day to San Jose 7/3 - Off
7/4 - Travel day to Philadelphia

MEDIA

Various - ESPN Radio 800 - Pagliarulo's Spirit Updates

GRASSROOTS EVENTS

7/5-6 -USA Pride soccer tourney, Pasadena 7/5 - Pegasus Tourney, La Jolla
7/5-6 - So. Cal. King Classic Tourney, Orange County
7/9 - Kit Carson School, Library Grand Re-opening, San Diego

QUOTES

Head Coach Omid Namazi on playing San Jose on Wednesday: "It is going to be a tough game with the absence of Joy (Fawcett). Our team has some fight in us and I am hoping that the team responds the same way on Wednesday as we did today.

Joy Fawcett on her ejection: "I was stunned when he (Arnold Baldeaux) pulled the card. There was nothing dirty or flagrant about the play. I don't know what he saw; it must have been a foul. I have never gotten a red card before, but I am just bummed that I have to miss the next game."

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Women's United Soccer Association Stories from June 30, 2003


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