San Diego Spirit Game Plan vs. New York

July 21, 2003 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
San Diego Spirit News Release


OPPONENTS' NOTES:

* Tiffeny Milbrett and Christie Welsh are the top goal scorers for the Power, netting 36 percent (10 out of 28) of all New York goals this season ... The duo is also responsible for 27 percent of Power assists this season (25 out of 92).

* Milbrett is ranked 13th in the league (with 13 assists) and Welsh ranks 15th (with 12 assists).

* Australians Cheryl Salisbury and Joey Peters will both miss the Power's next two games, due to national team duty.

* The Power defense is ranked eighth in team defense (2.18 goals per game) and third in team offense (1.65 goals per game).

THE OUTLOOK

The Spirit faces Tiffeny Milbrett and the New York Power, Wednesday, July 23 for the final time this season with the Spirit already having won the first two meetings. The last match between the two at Torero Stadium on June 21 was a wild 4-2 Spirit victory that feature tons of good chances from both sides and two goals from Julie Fleeting. Milbrett was her usual harassing self, hitting the crossbar and the post, but did not tally. In fact, Milbrett has never scored against the Spirit, the only one of the seven WUSA teams not to feel the sting of the league's all-time leading scorer. Milbrett was getting some great scoring help from rookie forward Christie Welsh, but she went down with a calf strain in that June 21 match against the Spirit and has missed several games, but may be ready by Wednesday's contest. One of the Power's best players this year has been former Spirit midfielder Shannon Boxx, who is among the league leaders in assists. Aside from Milbrett and Welsh, the other Power scoring threats are midfielders Emily Janss, Anita Rapp (both of whom scored on June 21) and Krista Davey, who have combined for eight goals on the season. The Power defense has been suspect this season, leading the league in goals allowed, and it could have been worse if not for the stellar play of U.S. Women's National Team player Christie Pearce, who recently got her 100th cap for the United States.

2003 INDIVIDUAL SPIRIT STREAKS BRANAM... has an assist in 1 of 2 games. DANIELA ...has an assist in 1 of 2 games...has a point in 1 of 2 games. FLEETING... has a goal in 1 of 2 games...has an assist in 1 of 2 games...has points in 1 of 2 games. LATHAM...has 2 goals in 1 of 4 games...has a goal in 3 of 4 games...has multi-pts in 2 of 4 games...has a point in 3 of 4 games. PAGLIARULO ... has won 1 of 3 games...is unbeaten in 8 of 11 games.

SPIRIT QUICK SHOTS...A victory would:

* Give San Diego a four-game home winning streak.
* Give San Diego a four-game winning streak vs. New York.
* Give San Diego seven wins, tying a club record set in 2001.
* Give San Diego five home wins, setting a club record.



Women's United Soccer Association Stories from July 21, 2003


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