Martin Sparks Charge to 3-1 Win Over Freedom
May 11, 2002 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
Philadelphia Charge News Release
VILLANOVA, PA (May 11, 2002) - Erin Martin made her first start of the year pay off with a pair of first-half goals, as the Philadelphia Charge remained unbeaten and atop the WUSA standings with a 3-1 win over the Washington Freedom Saturday afternoon. The Charge (4-0-0, 12 pts) controlled play on their home turf in front of 8,185, taking an early lead and never allowing the Freedom (2-3-0) a window back into the game. The four straight wins for the Charge is the longest winning streak in WUSA history.
Goalkeeper Melissa Moore kept her career-high four-game winning streak intact with a six-save performance in maintaining her goals-against average at 1.00. Midfielder Kelly Smith added a goal and an assist to increase her WUSA record point-scoring streak to seven games.
The Charge completed a two-game homestand undefeated, outscoring their opponents 7-3 over that span. For the season, the Charge have outscored their opposition 11-4.
Philadelphia takes the field again on Sunday, May 19 when the club travels to San Diego to face the Spirit starting at 8:00 p.m. (ET).
Martin, getting the starting nod in place of Marinette Pichon-who spent the week with the French National team but returned for the game-was the star. Her goal in the 22nd minute was Philadelphia's earliest tally in a game this year. Midfielder Lorrie Fair set up Martin's goal with a beautiful service from outside the box. Martin had gained position on a Washington defender in deep and headed the pass just inside the near post past a sprawling Dawn Greathouse. The assist was the U.S. national team member Fair's first point of the 2002 season.
It was Smith who set up the eventual game winner 12 minutes later, when she drove the goal line before left-footing a centering pass through a maze of traffic in front. Liu Ailing smokescreened the defense as she faked a shot and actually hopped over the pass which continued on its path to the far post where a sliding Martin banged it home. Mandy Clemens also picked up an assist on the goal as well, her first of the season and third point overall. The second goal proved to be all the WUSA's second-ranked defensive unit would need.
In the second half, Charge defender Erica Iverson earned her second yellow card and a subsequent ejection in the 71st minute. Philadelphia was forced to play a man-down for the final 19 minutes, but Moore made several key saves in an effort to keep the shutout.
Smith added an insurance goal off a Mary-Frances Monroe assist in the 88th minute, as she powered a left-foot shot past Greathouse for a 3-0 lead. The shutout bid was ended less than a minute later though, when Freedom forward Abby Wambach took a feed from Pu Wei to notch her second goal of the year.
For the contest, Washington out-shot Philadelphia by a 14-11 margin
NOTES: The Charge lead the WUSA with 2.75 goals per game... Erica Iverson made her fourth start of the year, equaling her total from last season... With the win, Philadelphia improves to 3-1-0 against Washington.
Women's United Soccer Association Stories from May 11, 2002
- Courage Draws With Boston, Remains Unbeaten - Carolina Courage
- Martin Sparks Charge to 3-1 Win Over Freedom - Philadelphia Charge
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