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San Diego Spirit Drops 2-0 Decision to Atlanta

July 9, 2003 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
San Diego Spirit News Release


ATLANTA – The San Diego Spirit concluded their three-game road trip and lost yet another opportunity to move into sole possession of first place in the WUSA after losing 2-0 to the Atlanta Beat at Herndon Stadium. Atlanta's Nikki Serlenga and Abby Crumpton scored the second-half goals which lifted the Beat to the victory and a league-leading record of 7-3-4 (25 points), while San Diego drops to 5-4-6 (21 points) and into a third-place tie with Washington.

The first half was fast-paced and physical, as Atlanta took 10 shots to San Diego's five. The teams also combined for 20 fouls in the first half and three yellow cards. Each team had good chances in the first half, the best of Atlanta's coming from Conny Pohlers, who narrowly missed twice from close range. Julie Fleeting nearly put San Diego on the board with a point-blank shot, but Sharolta Nonen deflected it out.

The second half saw each team settle down and start moving the ball around more. The pace slowed, but the Beat would continue to apply pressure to the Spirit's defense. The pressure paid off in the 73rd minute when Kim Pickup fouled Pohlers on the left side of the field, about 30 yards from goal. Serlenga stepped up to take the free kick for Atlanta and drove a ball toward the back post. Charmaine Hooper jumped to redirect the ball, but narrowly missed. Hooper's attempt to redirect the ball froze Spirit goalkeeper Jaime Pagliarulo and the ball snuck into the back post for Serlenga's first goal of the season. Pagliarulo would play 82 minutes in goal before being replaced by Jenni Branam.

The Beat would get an insurance goal in the first minute of stoppage time from Crumpton, a rookie forward from the University of Michigan. Crumpton, an attacking minded player, entered the game as a substitute in the 64th minute for Ifeoma Dieke, a defensive midfielder. The play began with Hooper winning a ball at the top of the 18-yard box. She dribbled at goal, but was cut off by a Spirit defender. She slipped the ball back to Pohlers at the penalty spot. Before Pohlers could fire a shot, the ball was cleared away by Spirit defender Lisa Krzykowski, but right into the path of Crumpton, who took a first time left-footed shot into the left corner of the goal past Branam.

San Diego had three chances in the last 10 minutes of the match. Daniela took two shots on the Beat's goal, but Scurry denied the first effort and the second shot past the outside of the post. Zhang Ouying had an opportunity in the 82nd minute, however her attempt sailed over the crossbar.

The Spirit finished their longest road trip of the season, three games and eight days, with a 0-1-2 mark.

Mia Hamm and the Washington Freedom make their first Torero Stadium appearance of the season on Wednesday, July 16, 7 p.m., to meet the Spirit. The first 4,000 fans through the gates will receive a free Legacy Water Bottle.



Women's United Soccer Association Stories from July 9, 2003


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