San Diego Spirit Game Plan vs. Atlanta

Published on May 8, 2003 under Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
San Diego Spirit News Release


OPPONENTS' NOTES:

* Atlanta is coming off its first loss of the 2003 season.

* Dominguez leads the WUSA in scoring with five goals and two assists for 12 points.

* Forward Charmaine Hooper leads the WUSA averaging 0.75 assists per game.

* Goalkeeper Briana Scurry ranks first in goals against average (0.50) and shutouts (2).

* Atlanta ranks first in team offense (3.00 goals per game) and first in team defense (0.50 goals per game).

THE OUTLOOK

The Spirit faces an Atlanta Beat team that has cooled off considerably from its first two matches, which they won by a combined scored of 11-0. Since then, Atlanta has tied and lost, scoring just one goal, which makes them even more dangerous in this battle between the two teams tied for third in the WUSA with identical 2-1-1 records. The Beat is coming off their first loss, 1-0, to San Jose at home last week and will be highly motivated to pick up a win and light up the scoreboard at home. With early season sensation Maribel Dominguez doing most of the damage, the Beat brings attacking personalities from all over the field, including Canadian Charmaine Hooper, and U.S. star Cindy Parlow, who has seen most of her time in the midfield. Homare Sawa and Nikki Serlenga give Atlanta two of the league's most creative central midfielders and the duo make it difficult to win the battle in the middle of the field. The two teams met in a pre-season exhibition with the Beat winning, 2-1, but this is the first meeting of the regular season between to the two Cox-owned teams who have historically played out an intense rivalry between the touchlines.

2003 INDIVIDUAL SPIRIT STREAKS BRANAM...has won 1 game.

FLEETING...has a goal in 3 games...has multi-pts in 3 games...has a point in 3 games...has a goal in 2 road games...has multi-pts. in 2 road games...has a point in 2 road games... has a goal in 1 home game...has points in 1 home game...has a point in 1 home game.

FOUDY...has an assist in 1 game...has points in 1 game...has an assist in 1 road game...has points in 1 road game.

LATHAM... has an assist in 1 of 2 games...has a point in 2 of 4 games...has points in 2 home games.

MACMILLAN... has an assist in 2 of 3 games...has a goal in 1 of 2 road game...has multi-points in 1 of 2 road games...has a point in 1 of 2 road games.... has an assist in 1 of 2 road games... has points in 2 of 4 games.

PAGLIARULO ... has won 2 games... has won 2 of 3 games.

ZHANG... has an assist in 1 game...has points in 1 game...has an assist in 1 road game...has points in 1 game.

SPIRIT QUICK SHOTS...A victory would:

* Put San Diego two games over the .500 mark for the first time in history.

* Give San Diego a two-game winning streak against Atlanta, first time ever

* Give San Diego four-game unbeaten streak, two shy of the club record.

* Even the all-time series at 3-3-1.

* Give San Diego a 2-1-1 all-time series lead in Atlanta.

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


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