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SAN DIEGO SPIRIT SIGNS CHINESE FORWARD ZHANG OUYING

March 14, 2002 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
San Diego Spirit News Release


SPEEDY STRIKER IS NINTH CHINESE PLAYER IN WUSA

SAN DIEGO – The San Diego Spirit have made an important move to bolster its attack, signing Chinese forward Zhang Ouying (Zang Ooh-Ying) as a Discovery Player. The speedy winger has played 37 times for the Chinese National Team, scoring 21 goals, including a strike against Germany at January's Four Nations Tournament in China.

A five-year veteran of the Chinese National Team, Zhang was a member of China's 1999 Women's World Cup Team, scoring twice against Ghana, and came off the bench to play 61 minutes in the classic championship game, several times causing problems for the U.S. defense with her dribbling. She coolly nailed the fourth shot in the historic penalty kick shootout in front of 90,185 fans, giving China life after her teammate had missed the third attempt. Zhang was also on China's 2000 Olympic Team, playing in all three of her country's first-round matches.

"Anytime you acquire a world-class player, it positively impacts your team," said Spirit head coach Carlos Juarez. "We are ecstatic about signing Zhang because she is technical, quick, intelligent and can score goals."

One of the fastest players on the Chinese National Team, the 26-year-old Zhang becomes the Spirit's third international player along with her national team teammate Fan Yunjie and Nigerian Mercy Akide. Chinese defender Wen Lirong, who played six games for the Spirit last season after being acquired in a trade with the Carolina Courage, has announced her retirement due to injuries to both of her eyes, giving the Spirit one more open spot for an international Discovery Player. The Spirit is currently pursuing several options to fill that slot.

The 5-foot-5 Zhang has played the last 11 years for the Heibei Club in Heibei, China, playing in 175 games and scoring 90 goals. Zhang played against the USA at the 1998 Friendship Tournament in Guangzhou, China, at the beginning of her national team career, and played in the 1999 Asian Games in the Philippines and the 2001 Asian Games in Chinese Taipei.

"Our system of play requires that we have two legitimate wingers," added Juarez. "So with Zhang and Shannon MacMillan, we feel that will be able to create danger from both flanks for opposing defenses."

Although Zhang has signed a player contract with the WUSA, her signing is contingent on the finalization of her official work visa. The process will be completed in the near future and Zhang is expected to join Spirit training camp in late March. She recently played for China at the Algarve Cup in Portugal, helping her team to the tournament title with a 1-0 victory over Norway in the championship game.

The San Diego Spirit is a charter member of the WUSA and will kick off their second season on April 13 against the Carolina Courage. The Spirit will play their home matches at the renovated 7,035-seat Torero Stadium on the campus of the University of San Diego. Season tickets for 2002 are now on sale. Individual game tickets will go on sale on March 9. For more ticket information, please contact the Spirit ticket office at 1-877-4SOCCER (1-877-476-2237) or 619-692-9872, or visit the club's website at www.sandiegospirit.com.

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