Power Defeat Charge, 5-4

May 3, 2003 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
New York Power News Release


VILLANOVA, PA - Christie Welsh scored a pair of goals for the Power, who have their first two-game winning streak since June 2001, defeating the Philadelphia Charge 5-4 on Saturday afternoon at Villanova Stadium. The Power scored twice in the final five minutes, with Krista Davey recording the game-winner in stoppage time to improve her club's overall record to 2-3-0 (6 pts) this season.

Kelly Smith and Deliah Arrington added a goal apiece for the Charge, who have lost three straight to start the season (0-3-0, 0 pts). Melissa Moore had three saves for Philadelphia, which had never allowed five goals in a game prior to today.

Tiffeny Milbrett added a goal for New York, which didn't lead the game until Davey put the Power up for good in the final moments of stoppage time.

Trailing 4-3 with five minutes left, Welsh tied the game when her unassisted tally went by Moore to knot the game for the fourth time in the 85th minute.

Then, a minute into stoppage time, Davey netted the game-winner, her first goal of the season, when she took the ball down the right flank, cut inside past two Charge defenders and ripped a shot from about 18 yards out that went to the left of a diving Moore and into the net.

Power goalkeeper Carly Smolak ended the game with five saves.

The Charge struck early when Pichon snuck in behind the Power defense, taking a pass from Tullock and depositing the ball in the back of the net past Carly Smolak. The goal came in the third minute and was the first of the year for Pichon; it was the quickest goal scored in Charge history.

The Power answered Pichon's goal just three minutes later, when Justi Baumgardt scored off a deflection to tie the game at 1-1. Following a New York shot that bounced off a number of Charge players, the ball was redirected to Baumgardt, who shot it over Moore and into the net.

The scoring continued in the 23rd minute when Tullock headed home a corner kick punched away by Smolak for a 2-1 lead; the goal was her first of the year.

New York once again had an answer for the Charge when just two minutes later Anita Rapp was pulled down by Charge defender Jenny Benson in the box resulting in a penalty kick goal by Milbrett.

The Charge again pulled ahead by one when Smith recorded her first goal of the season in the 37th minute only to have the Power respond in the 40th minute when an attempted clearance by Moore went right into the body of Christie Welsh and then into the net knotting the game at 3-3.

With the score coming out of halftime tied 3-3, the Charge again went ahead when Arrington scored her first WUSA goal by knocking home a loose ball. Hoffmann's initial shot on the play was deflected by Smolak to Arrington, who deposited the ball home for the team's final goal of the game.

Despite the loss the Charge have recorded five goals in the last 91 minutes of play. Philadelphia, however, has allowed eight goals in the last 180 minutes.

The Charge's Pavlina Scasna was placed on the injured list on Friday. Anne Makinen earned the start in the midfield in place of Scasna.



Women's United Soccer Association Stories from May 3, 2003


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