Sports stats



San Diego Falls Before Franchise Record Crowd

May 6, 2002 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
San Diego Spirit News Release


The high hopes for the start of the month of May hit a brick wall named the Washington Freedom. The Freedom parlayed their first-ever three-goal performance into a road win before a Spirit record crowd of 6,311 at Torero Stadium. San Diego dropped to 1-2-1, 4 points and now must play the defending Founders Cup champion San Jose CyberRays at Spartan Stadium on Sunday, May 12 at 3:00 p.m.

QUICK GLANCE RECORD: 1-2-1, 4 points,

LAST MATCH: 3-0, loss to Washington on May 5, at Torero Stadium

LEADING SCORER: Zhang Ouying, 3 goals, 2 assist, 8 points

INJURY REPORT: Mascaro, broken L foot, out

NEXT ON THE SLATE: @ San Jose CyberRays, 5/12, 3:00 p.m. PT at Spartan Stadium - San Diego travels to the Bay Area to challenge the defending WUSA champion San Jose CyberRays in the first of three meetings between the two clubs. Last year, San Diego actually won the season series based on a better goal differential (+1). The popular spin of the meeting is the match-up between C-Rays head coach Ian Sawyers and Spirit midfielder and captain Julie Foudy, as the pair are married off the field. However, bigger match-ups do exist between the two sides. The teams played twice in the preseason, tying 2-2 in Fullerton, Calif. and a week later San Jose defeating San Diego 4-1 in Las Vegas. The Spirit defense must stop the C-Rays Brazilian attack if they plan on getting a good result. San Diego's back line, though greatly improved since March, needs to remain solidified against Sissi, Pretinha and Katia. The Spirit's forward trio of Mercy Akide, Shannon MacMillan and Shauna Rohbock need to find a way to unravel C-Rays goalkeeper LaKeysia Beene, who played three tremendous matches against the Spirit in 2001, posting two shutouts. Beene continues to play well in 2002, as she is third in the WUSA with a 1.25 GAA and one shutout.

SD v SJ Lifetime, 1-1-1; SD v SJ in San Diego, 0-1-1; SD v SJ in San Jose, 1-0-0

2001 Leading Scorer v San Jose - Mercy Akide , Joy Fawcett, 1 goal

Complete Match Preview on Friday, May 10

SPIRIT NEWS:

TWO SPORT STARS? FOOTBALL or FUTBOL

On Saturday, May 4, four Spirit players kicked field goals at the San Diego Riptide AFL2 arena football game v. Louisville Fire. Shannon MacMillan had the two most thrilling kicks, as she kicked the longest field goal of the evening, splitting the 9-ft. wide uprights (NFL standard is 18.5ft.) from 38 yards away and then kicking a 33-yard field goal for a contestant allowing them to win a home security system. Rhiannon Tanaka, Kim Pickup and Shauna Rohbock, all completed 50% of their six kicks each. If the ladies would have been kicking through NFL-width goalposts, they would have scored on average 90% of their attempts.

SPIRIT HELPS THE ORGAN DONATION CAUSE

The Spirit teamed up with Viejas and Lifesharing, a community organ & tissue donation organization to help spread the word about organ donation. The club, in conjunction with the two groups, have printed player cards featuring four Spirit forwards, Mercy Akide, Shannon MacMillan, Shauna Rohbock and Zhang Ouying with organ donation information and a donor card on the back of the four-card set. For more information on organ donation, please visit lifesharing.org.

JUNIOR REPORTERS PROGRAM REACHES YOUNG JOURNALISTS & SCHOOLS

Extra, Extra...In the past two weeks, the Communications Department has hosted three junior reporters at a practice and then at Torero Stadium for a match as part of their Junion Reporters Program. In return for allowing these budding journalists access, they must write about their experience or about the team in their school newspaper and also provide their class with Spirit ticket information. The program is also for schools that produce their own in-house TV programming.

THREE DOT INFO:

Zhang's three game point streak ended...Shannon Boxx started her 25th consecutive match...Tara Koleski played her first minutes of the year as a sub, entering the game in the 55th minute...Worst loss since being shutout 3-0 at Philadelphia on 7/13/01...Washington's first ever lead against SD all-time came in the 21st minute, a span of 291 minutes...Washington's first ever win v SD...San Diego has committed 15 or more fouls in all four matches...San Diego is lifetime 2-5-4 against teams with fewer points in the standings...SD is 1-9-3 when the opponent scores first...The Spirit have allowed penalty kick goals in two consecutive games.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE:

PHILADELPHIA COMES TO TORERO STADIUM ON SUNDAY, MAY 19 FOR FLOPPY HAT NIGHT

San Diego returns home to face the Philadelphia Charge on Saturday, May 19, at 5 p.m. PT. The Spirit will be looking for its first-ever victory over the Charge. Be sure to come early on May 19th to enjoy the pre-game festivities inside the Fun Zone. Plus, the first 2,000 fans in attendance will receive a Spirit Floppy Hat, courtesy of Viejas Outlet Centers. Gates open 90 minutes prior to kick-off. The match on May 19th can also be seen live at 5 p.m. on Channel 4 San Diego.

QUOTE SHEET:

Carlos Juarez on the club's performance vs. Washington

"The loss was a combination of our impatience, Washington playing well, and us playing poorly," said Juarez. "There is no sugar coating this, we just didn't play well."

THIS WEEK IN SPIRIT HISTORY:

SPIRIT SHUTOUTS WASHINGTON AND MIA HAMM FOR FIRST WIN

May 5, 2001 - Shannon MacMillan's two-goal game propels the Spirit to its first win in team history, 2-0 over the visiting Washington Freedom. A sellout crowd enjoyed a complete performance by the entire Spirit team. San Diego goalkeeper Jaime Pagliarulo earned her second consecutive shutout.

PERSONALITY PLUS:

LORI LINDSEY:

Lori Lindsey, nicknamed L-squared, brings her Midwestern charm and skillful play to San Diego. The rookie has already tallied one goal and two assists in three games. Her motto is "it is the little things that matter and treat others as you wish to be treated." After her soccer career, she has a crazy ambition to become an actress (you can read her movie review below). Her parents are the most impressive people in her life as they have supported her and believed in everything that she has done. Before every game, Lori always puts on everything on her right leg first.

SPIRIT MOVIE REVIEW: Lori Lindsey on "A Beautiful Mind"

Overview: About a schizophrenic man and the stages of his life. It deals with him having a family and a career, while coping with the disorder.

Thoughts: It was an intriguing and inspirational film that was beautifully directed by Ron Howard. The screenplay translated well onto the big screen and the acting was superb. The twist that comes about 2/3 into the movie brings a new reality to the movie and to the disorder itself.

Rating: GOAL

Rating scale: Goal= Awesome & greatly recommend, Assist= Good, would recommend, Yellow Card= Average, and Red Card= Horrible, don't recommend.



Women's United Soccer Association Stories from May 6, 2002


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central