San Diego Spirit Match Preview

Published on May 3, 2002 under Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
San Diego Spirit News Release


THE OUTLOOK... The San Diego Spirit will have the benefit of playing with their three U.S. National Team players in this week's lineup. Defender Joy Fawcett, midfielder and captain Julie Foudy and forward Shannon MacMillan will return to the San Diego's roster after playing in last week's U.S., 3-0, win over Finland at San Jose. Spirit head coach Carlos Juarez was pleased with the performance of his team without the national team players last week in Boston, especially of the newcomers. "The win was very important to our team, it will build confidence as we compete for a playoff spot down the road. It is huge what our new players are bringing to the team, Zhang has three goals, Shauna (Rohbock) has two and our first-round draft pick Lori Lindsey has one," said Juarez. "I would say that scoring six of our nine goals is a big impact on our team." Zhang, the WUSA Co-Player of the Month, has a team-high three-game point streak, Rohbock tallied twice last week in Boston, and with MacMillan back in the lineup the Freedom's defense will be busy. The key match-up will be the Freedom's back line trying to stop Shannon MacMillan. Last year, MacMillan notched nine points against Washington. Emily Barr and Lindsey Stoecker will have to use their physical game to try to slow down MacMillan and the rest of the now dangerous Spirit forward line. However, the Spirit's defense will have the luxury of not having to worry about the popular and skillful Mia Hamm, as she is still recovering from offseason knee surgery and will not make the trip to San Diego.

FREEDOM NOTES...

· Forward Abby Wambach, the Freedom's 1st-round draft pick (2nd overall) leads the team in points and assists with three each.

· GK Siri Mullinix may get her first start of the season on Sunday. Dawn Greathouse has started the three previous contests, but she left last week's match vs. Atlanta after a collision with Beat forward Emily Burt.

· The match against San Diego is the second of three on the road for Washington.

SPIRIT NOTES...

· Zhang Ouying will be re-united on the playing field with WAS Pu Wei and Bai Jie for the first time since the 2002 Algarve Cup in Norway in March. Spirit defender Fan Yunjie did not participate in the Algarve Cup.

· Shannon Boxx is slated to start in her team-record 25th consecutive match this week.

· Lori Lindsey will not play due to her receiving a red card (two cautions) in last week's game vs. Boston.

· The Spirit has scored a goal within the first 10 minutes of consecutive games.

· Flo Omagbemi made her first appearance as a member of the Spirit in the match vs. Boston.

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