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Sawa Leads Beat Past Spirit

July 31, 2002 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) News Release


SAN DIEGO, CA - Homare Sawa had two goals and an assist as the Atlanta Beat defeated the San Diego Spirit 4-1 Wednesday evening at Torero Stadium. With the loss, San Diego (4-10-4, 16 pts.) was eliminated from the WUSA playoff race while Atlanta (10-7-1, 31 pts.) picked up its fourth consecutive win.

San Diego's Julie Fleeting put the Spirit up 1-0 in the 18th minute when she scored her third goal of the season. Julie Foudy started the play when she passed the ball from midfield to Jen Mascaro at the top of the 18-yard box. Mascaro flicked the ball through the Atlanta defense to Fleeting, and the Scotswoman slotted the ball into the left corner from 13 yards.

Atlanta evened the score at 1-1 when Sun Wen, making a rare start, found the back of the net in the 25th minute. After receiving a long pass from the Beat defense, Cindy Parlow flicked the ball to Sun. The Chinese attacking midfielder dribbled to the top of the box and cracked a 19-yard shot that was blocked by San Diego's Rhiannon Tanaka. Sun pounced on the loose ball, dribbled across the box and unleashed a 14-yard shot that beat San Diego goalkeeper Carly Smolak in the left corner.

Sawa made it 2-1 in the 34th minute when she scored her sixth goal of the season. Defender Lisa Krzykowski sent a long ball to Charmaine Hooper, who dummied from 20 yards out as Sawa ran behind Hooper and lifted the ball over Smolak. Hooper then put Atlanta up 3-1 less then a minute after halftime when she extended her goal-scoring streak to four games. Sawa had dribbled into the penalty area and backheeled a pass to Hooper. The Canadian national team striker ripped a shot into the right corner of the net for her 10th goal of the season.

Sawa closed out the scoring in the 72nd minute to make it 4-1. Atlanta defender Julie Augustyniak dribbled down the left wing to the endline and sent a cross into the box. The ball deflected off San Diego defender Anna Kraus and into the air. Before the ball reached the ground, Sawa cracked a left-footed volley that beat Smolak.

Atlanta continues its road swing with a visit to Washington, D.C. on Sunday to take on the Freedom in a pivotal match for playoff positioning. San Diego will look to play the role of spoiler when the Spirit visits Philadelphia on Saturday.



Women's United Soccer Association Stories from July 31, 2002


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