New York downs CyberRays second time in six days
June 14, 2003 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
San Jose CyberRays News Release
UNIONDALE, N.Y. (June 14, 2003) â Six days ago the CyberRays were undefeated against the New York Power in their all-time series. But after today's 3-1 loss in the rain on Long Island, the CyberRays are 0-2 against New York in 2003.
New York's Christie Welsh had a pair of goals in the game including one in stoppage time that ended the CyberRays' hopes of pulling out a tie.
The CyberRays flew to New York without four of their usual starters â goalkeeper LaKeysia Beene and defenders Thori Bryan and Brandi Chastain, all of whom were playing with the U.S. national team against Ireland in Salt Lake City â and midfielder Sissi, who is out with a dislocated rib. In addition, midfielder Betsy Barr, who had started all nine of the CyberRays' previous games, was held out of the match until the 88th minute because of a strained left adductor muscle. New York was without national teamers Tiffeny Milbrett, a forward, and defender Christie Pearce.
``You're talking about some pretty substantial hits for us,'' CyberRays coach Ian Sawyers said. ``That's a lot for a group of 16 players to take. But New York had two players missing, too.
``I thought we should have put the game away in the first half. I thought we had three or four real good chances where we could have put the game away.''
The loss dropped the sixth-place CyberRays to 4-6 for the season with 12 standings points, four points out of playoff contention at the season's midway point.
New York jumped out front in the 21st minute on a goal by Emily Janss, her second in as many games against the CyberRays, when she volleyed a Margaret Tietjen cross from the left back to the far post from 14 yards. What proved to be the game-winner came in the 73rd minute from Christie Welsh.
Katie Antongiovanni, a rookie from the University of Denver who was picked up as a free agent after starting the season with the Atlanta Beat, came on for the first time for the CyberRays in the 77th minute and scored from 12 yards just seven minutes later. Her first WUSA goal was the first goal in 293 minutes for the CyberRays, a league record for offensive futility.
``It was a great finish,'' Sawyers. ``She played well when she came on.''
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Women's United Soccer Association Stories from June 14, 2003
- New York downs CyberRays second time in six days - San Jose CyberRays
- Power Top CyberRays, 3-1 - New York Power
- Courage and Beat Play To Scoreless Draw - Carolina Courage
- Beat Ties Courage 0-0; Wilson Records 7 Saves and First WUSA Shutout - Atlanta Beat
- San Diego Spirit Fall To Charge 2-0 in Philadelphia - San Diego Spirit
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