Pagliarulo a Rock in Goal Again

Published on June 23, 2003 under Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
San Diego Spirit News Release


San Diego Spirit goalkeeper Jaime Pagliarulo is somewhat quietly having the best season of her three-year career. Already a crowd favorite, "Pags" has been steadfastly consistent in the Spirit goal so far this year, and while she has made her share of goal-saving stops, it has been her management of the goal area that has been phenomenal. She has made hard saves look easy, and made all the easy saves. Not a tall goalkeeper, she has been aggressive in her penalty area, picking the right times to go for crosses, and often punching them clear. Her organization of the Spirit's three-woman back line has been excellent, with no small help from veteran Joy Fawcett, who is still playing world class soccer at age 35. Pags' stellar play has allowed her to work herself back into the picture for an alternate spot on the 2003 Women's World Cup Team that will be chosen in early to mid-August.

QUICK GLANCE AT THE SPIRIT

NEXT MATCH: Sunday, June 29, 5 p.m. PT, vs. San Jose CyberRays, Torero Stadium, Live on Channel 4 San Diego
LAST MATCH: Saturday, June 21, 4-2 win over New York @ Torero Stadium.
RECORD: 4-3-4, 16 pts., tied 4th place
LEADING SCORER: Julie Fleeting, 6 goals, 2 assists = 14 points, tied for 7th in the WUSA
INJURIES: Shannon MacMillan, Torn R ACL, Out

NEXT ON THE SLATE: Sunday, June 29, vs. San Jose CyberRays, Torero Stadium, 5 p.m. PT

The intense rivalry for California bragging rights continues Sunday at Torero Stadium as Brandi Chastain and the San Jose CyberRays visit San Diego looking to avenge a previous 2-1 loss to the Spirit on April 27. San Jose trails the Spirit by three points in the standings. The first 4,000 fans will receive a FREE Aly Wagner Bobblehead.

FREE ALY WAGNER BOBBLEHEAD TO FIRST 4,000 FANS ON JUNE 29!

The San Diego Spirit will feature their second bobblehead giveaway of the season as the first 4,000 fans attending the game on June 29 will receive one FREE Aly Wagner Bobblehead when the Spirit take on Brandi Chastain and the San Jose CyberRays. The club previously gave away a bobblehead of the team mascot, San D. Panda, to fans who purchased four tickets to any home game in April. On July 23, the team will giveaway its third and final bobblehead of the season, a Shannon MacMillan bobblehead.

FILLING THE BACK OF THE NETS

San Diego notched their highest goal output of the season on Saturday, piercing the back of the Power goal nets four times. The offensive production ranked as the third highest goal total in team history. The three highest all-time goal outputs have all been recorded at Torero Stadium. San Diego has scored three goals twice on the road and three times at home.

Most Goals In a Game
1. April 20, 2002, vs. New York, 6 goals
2. July 6, 2002, vs. Boston, 5
3. June 21, 2003, vs. New York, 4 4. 5 times, Various teams 3

SCORING FIRST IS A MUST

San Diego is a dangerous time if they score first and then holds a lead through the 75th minute of play. The Spirit is 13-1-5 when scoring first, 10-0-3 when leading at the half and 12-0-0 when leading at the 75th minute mark.

AIR SCOTLAND RETURNS

Julie Fleeting returned to the scoresheet in a big way on Saturday tallying her first career two-goal game. The first goal was a diving header, which brought her total of header goals to four on the season. 'As Scotland' leads the team in scoring and has scored in five of her last eight games.

SPIRIT CAMPS BEGIN THIS WEEK

The San Diego Spirit Camp season begins this week with the team's first Developmental Camp in Tierrasanta. The weeklong camp features Spirit players and coaches instructing campers on technical skills, understanding of tactics and overall fitness.

SPIRIT SNAPSHOTS

San Diego is off to the best start with 16 points after 11 games...San Diego is now 8-4-2 on national TV ...Foudy had her three-game goal streak end on Saturday...Fleeting became the eighth Spirit player to register two goals in a game, the feat has been done 11 times in team history...San Diego ended a three-game winless and two-game losing streak...San Diego won for the first time at home since April 27...It was San Diego's third consecutive win over NY, second this season...It was San Diego's third win on national TV this season...San Diego scored its first goal in the run of the play in 293 minutes...San Diego has scored 2 goals in a half four times this season, three against New York... San Diego has four own-goals received this season...The Power's Tiffeny Milbrett has scored 29 career goals and none have been against San Diego (6 games).

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

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

QUOTES

Namazi on playing San Jose on Sunday: "They are going to come in here hungry. They are a team searching for answers, just like we are."

Aly Wagner on her WUSA growing pains: "Earlier on, I was adjusting to the level of the competition and I knew that it would take some time to get into the swing of things. From a personal standpoint, I was just excited to be on a team that was making a jump in its level of play as well and to be a part of that. As long as I am helping my team get W's and getting off to its best start ever, that makes me happy."

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Women's United Soccer Association Stories from June 23, 2003


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