San Diego Spirit Game Plan vs. Atlanta - July 9

July 8, 2003 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
San Diego Spirit News Release


OPPONENTS' NOTES:

* Hooper, the Beat's all-time leading scorer, is responsible for 31 percent of Atlanta's goals. Charmaine Hooper scored both goals for the Beat in her last match, reinforcing her position as one of the top offensive players in the league...Hooper is tied for first in the WUSA in assists (6), and is fourth in both goals scored (7) and points (20)...Hooper became the second player in WUSA history to record 30 goals (New York's Tiffeny Milbrett is the other).

* Forward Maribel Dominguez and midfielder Homare Sawa were both absent from Saturday's game due to Mexican and Japanese national team duties, respectively.

* Atlanta remains ranked first in the WUSA in both team offense (2.00 goals per game) and team defense (0.92 goals allowed per game).

THE OUTLOOK

San Diego, who has tied its last two outings on the road, can move into sole possession of first place for the first time ever with a win over Atlanta in the final meeting of the season between the two clubs on Wednesday. The last meeting between the Spirit (21 points) and the Beat (22 points) resulted in 1-1 tie on May 31, at Torero Stadium. Forward Charmaine Hooper gave the Beat the early lead with a goal in the fifth minute. However, Julie Foudy's penalty kick goal in the 84th minute drew the contest even, resulting in a point for both squads. The season series between these two teams is tied at 0-0-2. San Diego has never lost at Herndon Stadium (1-0-1) and holds a 1-1-2 record in the city of Atlanta (The team previously played at Georgia Tech). The Beat is winless in the last three meetings with the Spirit (0-1-2). Both teams' all-time leading scorers in this series will not participate in Wednesday's match (Shannon MacMillan - 3g, 3a, 9 pts. - R ACL tear; Homare Sawa - 3g, 3a, 9 pts. - Japanese national team duty). Atlanta will also be without the services of Maribel Dominguez (Mexican national team duty).

2003 INDIVIDUAL SPIRIT STREAKS

BRANAM... Is unbeaten in her last 2 games.
DANIELA ...has an assist in 1 of 2 games...has a point in 1 of 2 games.
FAWCETT...Has an assist in 1 game...has a point in 1 game.
FLEETING... has a goal in 2 of 4 games...has a goal in 6 of 11 games...has multi-pts in 6 of 11 games...has a point in 7 of 11 games ...has points in 4 of 5 road games...has a point in 3 of 4 games.
KRZYKOWSKI...has an assist in 1 of 3 games...has an point in 1 of 3 games.
LATHAM...has 2 goals in 1 of 2 games...has a goal in 2 games...has multi-pts in 2 games...has a point in 2 games.
PAGLIARULO ... has won 1 of 2 games...is unbeaten in 8 of 10 games.
SULLIVAN...has an assist in 2 games...has a point in 2 games.
WAGNER...has a goal in 1 of 3 games...has two assists in 1 of 4 games, has an assist in 1 of 4 games...has multi-pts in 2 of 4 games...has a point in 2 of 4 games.
ZHANG...has an assist in 1 of 3 games...has a points in 1 of 3 games.

STAT BREAKDOWN Spirit Beat
GOALS FOR: 21 26
GOALS AGAINST: 18 12
SHOTS: 191 170
LEADING SCORER: Fleeting, 17 pts. Hooper, 20 pts.
STREAK: Tied 2, Unbeaten 4 Lost 1

SPIRIT QUICK SHOTS...A victory would:
* Be first win over Atlanta in 2003.
* Move San Diego into sole possession of 1st for the first time ever.
* Extend unbeaten streak to five games.
* Be third win in last five games.
* Put SD three games over the .500 mark for the first time in club history.
* Be the first win when the kickoff is after 6 p.m. in 2003.



Women's United Soccer Association Stories from July 8, 2003


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