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San Diego Spirit Match Preview

July 30, 2002 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
San Diego Spirit News Release


The Atlanta Beat and their star-studded roster come into Torero Stadium Wednesday for the second and last time this season as they cling to a WUSA playoff berth. The Beat need every point to secure one of the four spots in the post-season while the Spirit will look to be spoilers. It won't be easy. The Beat features several of the top players in the league at their positions, including forwards Charmaine Hooper and Cindy Parlow, who have combined to score more than 100 goals for their respective countries. Chinese international Sun Wen, who has never quite achieved full fitness during her WUSA career, still possesses game-changing skills, as do midfielders Homare Sawa, Nikki Serlenga and Kylie Bivens. The Beat is also strong in the back, with hard-woman Sharolta Nonen anchoring the back line. If a team can navigate its way through the Beat's defense, goalkeeper Briana Scurry will be waiting. The 1999 Women's World Cup hero has recently rejuvenated her international career and will be looking to finish the WUSA season with consistently solid performances. The Spirit will also be looking to end the season on a positive note after some struggles during the season, but with the addition of Scottish striker Julie Fleeting, along with Shannon MacMillan the Spirit's attack has developed a bit more bite. The Spirit fans have been wonderful all season long, and the players will be looking to reward their loyalty with a high level performance in this first Wednesday night home match of the year.

BEAT NOTES...

· Atlanta's playoff scenario will rely on the misfortunes of either San Jose or Washington. If San Jose were to lose both of their matches this week and Atlanta were to win just one, the Beat would clinch a playoff spot. If the Beat were to collect five points this week and Washington were to lose both of its matches, Atlanta would clinch a spot in the playoffs.

· Hooper has scored in three straight games.

· Scurry recorded, league high, fifth shut out of the season.

· Emily Burt has assisted in four straight games.

· Beat has nine wins and is tied with Philadelphia for most wins in league history.

SPIRIT NOTES...

· San Diego's record is 4-9-4, 16 points, 7th place. San Diego is in a must-win situation for the remaining four games this season. A loss or a tie in any of the final four matches for the Spirit will result in San Diego being eliminated from playoff contention.

· Julie Fleeting and Shannon MacMillan season team-high three-game point and two-game goal streaks ended Saturday.

· Carly Smolak has set a team high for consecutive shutout minutes this season with 178.

· Zhang Ouying missed her first start of the season due to a pulled hamstring and is out for Wednesday's game.

· Jaime Pagliarulo is out with knee tendonitis.



Women's United Soccer Association Stories from July 30, 2002


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