San Diego Spirit Waives Four Players

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


SAN DIEGO - The San Diego Spirit exercised options on nine players today as new head coach Omid Namazi continues to revamp the Spirit roster in preparation for the season opener on April 5 against the Boston Breakers at Torero Stadium. By 2:00 p.m. PT today, each of the eight WUSA teams were required to reduce their rosters to no more than 16 players and no less than 12, not including players taken in the 2003 WUSA Draft.

Release Summary

The Spirit's three Founding Players - Julie Foudy, Shannon MacMillan and Joy Fawcett - are on multi-year contracts and are not in an option year.

The Spirit picked up the options on midfielder Kerry Connors, acquired in a 2003 draft-day trade from the Philadelphia Charge, and Jen Lalor, acquired in an off-season trade with the New York Power that brought the Spirit the #1 pick in the draft, which was used to take the 2002 college player of the year Aly Wagner. The Spirit also picked up the options on two of its international players, renewing Scotland captain Julie Fleeting and Chinese winger Zhang Ouying.

Finally, Namazi chose to renew five American players from last year's squad in midfielder Jen Mascaro, goalkeeper Jaime Pagliarulo, defender Kim Pickup, defender Amy Sauer and defender Rhiannon Tanaka. All but Sauer are entering their third WUSA season.

The Spirit did not pick up options on Chinese international Fan Yunjie, a two-year starter for the Spirit and the team's first pick in the inaugural WUSA Draft, as well as Nigerian Mercy Akide, making way for two new international signings, one of which is Canadian striker Christine Latham and the other of which is still pending. The Spirit also waived midfielder Sherrill Kester, a two-year player for the Spirit who only scored one goal in her career, and defender Wynne McIntosh, who was also acquired in the off-season deal with New York.

"The combination of draft picks, new international players and our core group of veterans has created an exciting mix for the upcoming season and we feel we've significantly improved the team from last year," said Namazi. "Our goal is to make the playoffs and we feel the players we kept can help us reach that goal."

All of the players whose options are not renewed will go into a Waiver Draft set for Monday, Feb. 24. The Spirit has the second pick in that draft, should the club choose to pick up a player.

The San Diego Spirit is a charter member of the WUSA and plays their home matches at the 7,035-seat Torero Stadium on the campus of the University of San Diego. The Spirit kicks off their third season of action on April 5, against the Boston Breakers. Kickoff is 6 p.m. PT. For season, mini-plan or group 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. Single-game tickets can be purchased through all Ticketmaster outlets, by phone at 619-220-TIXS or online at www.ticketmaster.com.



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


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central