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San Diego Spirit Weekly

April 10, 2002 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
San Diego Spirit News Release


The second season in the history of the San Diego Spirit begins Saturday, April 13, 3:00 p.m PT against the Carolina Courage at USD Torero Stadium. The stage is set for head coach Carlos Juarez and his team to start off the season on the right foot. Last year, the team's sluggish 2-5-2 start was difficult to overcome and the Spirit just missed the playoffs. Ironically, Carolina was the last opponent San Diego faced in 2001, and the match-up was one of the most exciting games of the year. Shannon MacMillan scored twice in the second half, once in extra time, to lift the Spirit to a 2-2 tie before the fifth sellout crowd of the season at Torero Stadium. Saturday's 3:00 p.m. PT match will be telecast live on Channel 4 San Diego. San Diego Charger linebacker Junior Seau and U.S. Navy Petty Officer Jeremy Parks will participate in the opening ceremonies.

NEXT ON THE SLATE:

Vs. Carolina, 4/13, 3:00 p.m. PT at Torero Stadium - The Spirit open their season against the Carolina Courage. The Courage, who should be much-improved, finished in last place during the inaugural season, but reaped the benefits of the first pick in the WUSA draft, taking 2000 Olympian Danielle Slaton. The Courage also signed two talented international players in Norwegian Unni Lehn and German Birgit Prinz. Carolina returns leading scorer Danielle Fotopoulos, one of the toughest forwards to contain in the league and feature top Norwegian playmaker Hege Riise. The Courage suffered a setback as team captain defender Carla Overbeck was ruled out until midseason as she recovers from knee surgery.

KEY MATCH-UP

A key to Saturday's match will be the Spirit's ability to shut down Riise's passing magic, but while not forgetting about the fine passing abilities of Lehn. Shannon Boxx and Julie Foudy must assert their games and make the Norwegians play defense in the center of the field. Whichever team can keep the wraps on the others' top striker - Fotopoulos for Carolina and MacMillan for San Diego - will have the best chance of winning.

SPIRIT NEWS:

WHAT's NEW IN 2002?

The Spirit will unveil the completion of the second phase of Torero Stadium's renovation on Saturday. The highlight of the renovation is the new video scoreboard on the West end. The board will be in view of every seat in the house, providing live game action, replays, fun stuff and the score. The field was widened from 66 to 70 yards, providing the players more space to showcase their talents and fans better sightlines. The "Fun Zone" which opens 90 minutes prior to kickoff will feature new events for fans, including a rock-climbing wall. Fans and media will also notice other minor improvements to the stadium, all of which are designed to enhance the game day experience.

DO YOU KNOW THE WAY TO SAN JOSE? THREE SPIRIT PLAYERS DO FOR U.S. MATCH

Spirit captain Julie Foudy, defender Joy Fawcett and forward Shannon MacMillan will join U.S. Women's National Team for the April 27 exhibition vs. Finland at Spartan Stadium in San Jose, Calif. Due to their call-up, the trio will miss the Spirit's match against the Boston Breakers in Boston.

HOTTEST PLAYER ON THE PLANET

Shannon MacMillan is probably the hottest women's soccer player on the planet at the moment. She tallied seven of the eight U.S. goals in four matches at the recent Algarve Cup in Portugal. She has scored 11 goals in just eight games for the USA so far in 2002. MacMillan was named the San Diego Hall of Champions Professional Star of the month for January with her national team performance.

SAY HELLO, SAY GOOD BYE

The Spirit has renovated their roster for the 2001 season. Players from the 2001 squad not on the 2002 roster are Tracy Arkenberg, Karissa Hampton, Erin Montoya, Bente Nordby, Holly Pierce, Missy Wycinsky and Wen Lirong. All of the players are now out of the WUSA. Joining the team in 2002 are F Zhang Ouying, F Shauna Rohbock, M Lori Lindsey, D Amy Sauer. Two new players comprise the reserve team M Florence Omagbemi and G Shelley Finger.

SEASON TICKET SALES TOP 2,300

2002 season ticket sales for the San Diego Spirit topped the 2,300 mark this past weekend. The total marks an increase over the 2001 total of 2,003. Individual, group and mini-season ticket are available by calling the Spirit ticket office at 1-877-4SOCCER. Individual tickets are also available through TicketMaster by calling 619-220-TIXS.

NEW BROADCAST TEAM FOR CHANNEL 4 SAN DIEGO TELECASTS

Channel 4 San Diego will broadcast 14 San Diego Spirit matches beginning April 13 at 3:00 p.m. Twelve of the 14 Spirit games will be telecast live; the remaining two games will be same-day tape delayed at 7:00 p.m. The new broadcast team of 25-year sports broadcast veteran Chris Marlowe (play-by-play), and San Diego Sockers head coach and KSDO's Inside Soccer radio show co-host Brian "The Mighty" Quinn (analyst) will call the action for games originating from Torero Stadium.

CALENDARS: MEDIA WATCH

4/11- XTRA Sports 690 - Mac & Cheese, 9:00 p.m.

4/12- KFMB Morning News - Smolak & Mascaro, 6:45 a.m.

4/13- Match vs. Carolina - Channel 4 San Diego, live, 3:00 p.m.

WHAT'S HAPPENING

4/13- MATCH vs. CAROLINA, 3:00 p.m. PT, Torero Stadium, Live on Channel 4 San Diego

4/20- MATCH vs. NEW YORK, 1:00 p.m. PT, Torero Stadium, Live on PAX TV

TRAINING

4/12- Training, TBA, Torero Stadium

All times and locations are subject to change

UPCOMING SCHEDULE:

NEW YORK AND BOSTON COMING UP IN THE FUTURE

Next week, the Spirit face another team that they failed to beat in the inaugural season, as WUSA leading scorer and MVP Tiffeny Milbrett leads the New York Power into San Diego on Saturday, April 20 at 1:00 p.m. PT. After the Spirit face the New York Power at Torero Stadium on April 20, they will travel to Boston for their first road trip of the season to meet the Breakers. The match kicks off Saturday, April 27, 4:00 p.m. PT from Nickerson Field, telecast at 7:00 p.m. PT tape delayed on Channel 4 San Diego. The following Sunday, Mia Hamm and the Washington Freedom come to Torero Stadium for their only San Diego appearance in 2002.

THIS WEEK IN SPIRIT HISTORY:

SPIRIT PREPARES FOR SEASON OPENER, FOUNDING PLAYERS MEET IN D.C.

In 2001, the Spirit was preparing for their April 22 season opener against the Philadelphia Charge. However, Spirit players Julie Foudy and Shannon MacMillan joined other founding players in Washington, D.C. for the inaugural WUSA match between Bay Area and Washington, won by the CyberRays,1-0.

PERSONALITY PLUS:

LORI LINDSEY - SPIRIT FIRST-ROUND DRAFT PICK

Lori Ann Lindsey is the daughter of Carol and Larry and Susan Lindsey...Brother Chris, played college soccer at Earlham College from 1996-'00...Favorite food is steak and potatoes...Was an avid skateboarder in 6th grade...The UVa co-captain was named to the NSCAA/adidas second team All-American...Named to Soccer America MVP team along with teammate Amy Sauer... Played for the Indiana Blaze of the W-League from 1997-'00...Played at the University of Virginia and was one of the premier central midfielders in the nation... She was the school's first-ever Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year, winning the award two consecutive years joining Mia Hamm as the only other player to achieve that distinction...Finished sixth all-time scorer in UVa history with 33 goals and 76 points...A graduate of Pike High School, Lindsey was named NSCAA Parade All-American and earned first team All-State honors four consecutive years...All-time leading scorer in Indiana high school history.



Women's United Soccer Association Stories from April 10, 2002


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