San Diego Spirit Game Plan vs. Washington

July 14, 2003 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
San Diego Spirit News Release


OPPONENTS' NOTES:

* Defender Jennifer Grubb has played every minute of her three-year career, tied Carolina's Staci Burt for the most minutes played all-time.

* Abby Wambach scored two goals in her last outing, giving her seven for the season... Wambach is tied for all-time individual record for most goals (7) and points (14).

* Mia Hamm ranks second in points per game (1.75) and Wambach is fourth (1.64).

* Washington ranks second in team offense (1.64 goal per game) and fifth in team defense (1.64 goals per game).

THE OUTLOOK

The Spirit faces Mia Hamm and the Washington Freedom for the first time this season on Wednesday. In a scheduling quirk, San Diego and Washington will play each other three times in 24 days. This will be Hamm's first appearance in San Diego since August 1, 2001, when she scored a goal to tie to game.

The Freedom swept the 2002 season series and are unbeaten in the last four games against San Diego. The Spirit, who are in a playoff chase, cannot afford to drop points too many points to Washington this late in the season, especially when the teams are battling each other for a post-season berth. Washington has been hovering near the top of the league in all the offensive categories, while presenting a staunch defense, usually a solid combination for success. Hamm leads the team in points and has received goal-scoring help from forwards Abby Wambach, the 2002 WUSA Rookie of the Year, and Jacqui Little. Goalkeeper Siri Mullinix has proved to once again be one of the best in the WUSA. She has started all but one game for the club this season.

2003 INDIVIDUAL SPIRIT STREAKS BRANAM... Is unbeaten in her last 2 games. DANIELA ...has an assist in 1 of 3 games...has a point in 1 of 3 games. FAWCETT...Has an assist in 1 of 2 games...has a point in 1 of 2 games. LATHAM...has 2 goals in 1 of 3 games...has a goal in 3 games...has multi-pts in 2 of 3 games...has a point in 2 of 3 games. PAGLIARULO ... has won 1 of 3 games...is unbeaten in 8 of 11 games. SULLIVAN...has an assist in 2 of 3 games...has a point in 2 of 3 games. WAGNER...has a goal in 1 of 4 games...has two assists in 1 of 5 games, has an assist in 1 of 5 games...has multi-pts in 2 of 5 games...has a point in 2 of 5 games.

STAT BREAKDOWN Spirit Washington
GOALS FOR: 21 27
GOALS AGAINST: 18 23
SHOTS: 191 148
LEADING SCORER: Fleeting, 17 pts. Hamm, 21 pts.
STREAK: Lost 1 Won 1

SPIRIT QUICK SHOTS...A victory would:

* End Spirit three-game winless streak and one-game losing streak.

* Give SD a three-game home win streak.

* End a three-game losing streak to WAS.

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



Women's United Soccer Association Stories from July 14, 2003


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