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Spirit Advisory Board Taking Shape

May 13, 2003 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
San Diego Spirit News Release


The Spirit Advisory Board (SAB) held its first board meeting on Tuesday, May 6 at the Spirit offices. The meeting was well attended by a group of local community, business, educational, political and sports leaders. The agenda, headed by Pacific Women's Sports Foundation executive director Jody Sims and Spirit general manager Dave Presher, was carried out in a one-hour meeting featuring the 3-minute Spirit video, introduction of Board members and the discussion of organizational topics.

The diverse membership of the board offered tremendous suggestions on the direction in which the SAB should go. It was quickly evident that SAB members would have great support and participation in this new and exciting venture. Committee Chair positions were filled swiftly as Dr. Janet Littrell, CEO & general manager of Spectrum Pacific Learning Company volunteered to be the SAB Chairperson. You Go Girl! Co-author Kim Doren assumed the role of 1st Chair, while author and soccer coach Jennifer Coburn became 2nd Chair.

The discussions led to the early focus and goals of the SAB, which will be to provide support for professional women's sports in San Diego, promote health and fitness in schools, create fundraising events that support youth programs and underprivileged athletes. Additionally, the SAB will establish a speakers bureau to bring their message to the corporate world.

QUICK GLANCE AT THE SPIRIT
NEXT MATCH: Sunday, May 18, 5 p.m. PT, vs. Boston, Torero Stadium, San Diego, Calif., Live on Channel 4 SD
LAST MATCH: 1-1 tie with Atlanta, Saturday, May 10, Atlanta, Ga., Herndon Stadium
RECORD: 2-1-2, 8 pts.
LEADING SCORER: Julie Fleeting, 4 goals, 8 points
INJURIES: None

NEXT ON THE SLATE: Boston Breakers, Sunday, May 18, 5 p.m. PT, Torero Stadium, San Diego, Calif.

San Diego returns home to meet the Breakers for the final game of the season series, Boston won the last game at Torero Stadium, 2-1, in the season opener. The teams tied in their last meeting on May 3 in Boston. The Spirit has been unbeaten since the loss to the Breakers. The match kicks off at 5 p.m. PT at Torero Stadium. Promotions include the Spirit will honor all military personnel on Military Day and the first 4,000 fans will receive a free Spirit T-shirt, complements of adidas and USYSA.

'AIR SCOTLAND' GROUNDED FOR SUNDAY's GAME

Spirit forward Julie Fleeting is chasing two team scoring records, consecutive games with a goal and consecutive games with a point, however she will have to put the chase on hold as Fleeting will be away with the Scottish National Team and will miss Sunday's important match with the Breakers. 'Air Scotland' tied at team record (Tara Koleski, 2001) by scoring a goal in four straight games, three of them coming off headers. Fleeting will have the chance to break the record on May 24 when the Spirit travel to meet the defending Founders Cup champion Carolina Courage. If she tallies a point in that match, she will tie the team record for consecutive games with a point.

Consecutive Games with a Goal:
4 4/19-5/10/03 Julie Fleeting
4 7/29-8/9/01 Tara Koleski
2 7/10-7/20/02 Julie Fleeting, tied with 2 others

Consecutive Games with a Point:
5 7/29-8/12/01 Tara Koleski
4 4/19-5/10/05 Julie Fleeting
3 7/10-7/20/02 Julie Fleeting, tied with 2 others

DOUBLE DUTY AGAIN FOR QUARTET

Defender Joy Fawcett, midfielders Aly Wagner and Julie Foudy and forward Shannon MacMillan have been named to the 24-player U.S. Women's National Team roster that will train for four days in Birmingham, Alabama, in preparation to face England on May 17 at Legion Field in a match that will be televised live on ESPN at 10 a.m. PT. With a Noon CT kickoff in Birmingham, the players will travel back to San Diego that night and be available to play against the Boston Breakers on Sunday, May 18 with the kickoff at 5 p.m. PT.

THE BEST START TO A SEASON CONTINUES

The Spirit are off to the best start in team history with a 2-1-2 record and eight points. The team began the previous two seasons with an identical 1-2-2 mark. San Diego currently has a four-game unbeaten streak; the longest streak in club history is six games recorded between July 25-August 12, 2001.

SPIRIT SNAPSHOTS

Jaime Pagliarulo is unbeaten in her last three starts and is one win away from 10 career victories...Shannon MacMillan has points in three of four games...San Diego set two records for most corner kicks in Saturday's tie with six in a half (1st) and nine for the entire game... Jen Nielsen returned to action after missing three games due to a broken toe and played two minutes... San Diego has scored three of their seven goals between the 61 and 70-minute mark.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

The Spirit goes on the road to the beautiful SAS Stadium for its next match on May 24 against the Carolina Courage in the first game of the season against the defending WUSA champions. The Spirit will then open an important two-game home stand on consecutive Saturdays against the Atlanta Beat on May 31 and the Philadelphia Charge on June 7. Both kickoffs are at 6 p.m. PT at Torero Stadium. Those matches will mark the first and only visits by the Beat and the Charge, both playoff teams in the first two seasons, to Torero Stadium in 2003.

CALENDARS

MATCHES
5/18 - vs. Boston Breakers, Torero Stadium, 5 p.m. PT, Live on Channel 4 San Diego

GRASSROOTS EVENTS

5/15 - MCRD Autograph Event - MCRD - 2-4 p.m.
5/15 - Lego Land Sports Conference - Lego Land - 4 p.m.
5/17 - Children's Hospital Celebration of Champions - Embarcadero Park - 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
All times are Pacific

QUOTES

Omid Namazi on playing Boston on Sunday... "We'd like to go into this Boston match knowing that in first game (a 2-1 loss on Opening Day) that we were on our heels, but that in second game (a 1-1 tie) we played them more level, and that we can even up the series in the third game. They are certainly a quality team. We know they were missing the Mugneret-Beghe and Mellgren this past weekend, which is a big loss. With all their players, they are a very dangerous team and maybe the most exciting attacking team in the league."

SPIRIT NUMEROLOGY

111 - Minutes the Spirit has led a match during the 2003 season to date; total represents 24.6% of the total minutes played.

374 - Minutes the Spirit led a match during the entire 2002 season; total represented 19.7% of the total minutes played.

112 - Combined total of shots on goal between the Spirit and Breakers, the highest combined total with any opponent.



Women's United Soccer Association Stories from May 13, 2003


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