Spirit and CyberRays Tie 2-2 in Preseason Match

Published on March 17, 2002 under Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
San Diego Spirit News Release


SPIRIT DRAW 2-2 WITH CYBERRAYS AT TITAN STADIUM IN FULLERTON; MacMILLAN & ROHBOCK SCORE AS SPIRIT STAYS UNBEATEN IN PRESEASON

FULLERTON, Calif. (Sunday, March 17, 2002) - The San Diego Spirit went a goal up, then allowed two, but got a 74th minute equalizer from Shauna Rohbock to tie the WUSA champions San Jose CyberRays, 2-2, in an exhibition match on a rainy night at Titan Stadium.

It was the first promoted game of the preseason for the Spirit, and 3,337 fans braved chilly winds and steady second half showers to see some quality finishes from both sides.

The Spirit opened the scoring in the 9th minute as forward Shannon MacMillan, fresh off her seven goals in four games performance for the U.S. National Team at the Algarve Cup, tallied for her club. Jen Mascaro controlled a ball on the left wing and smoothly cut inside, splitting the CyberRays defense. MacMillan made a diagonal run behind the defense into the penalty area and Mascaro played her in stride. MacMillan took a touch and then lifted the bouncing ball over CyberRays goalkeeper Janine Szpara and into the net from 12 yards out.

The CyberRays equalized in the 14th minute through a brilliant strike from Brazilian forward Katia, who was left with far too much space in the right side of the penalty area as she ran onto a pass from Sissi, sized up her chance and then blasted a shot across Jaime Pagliarulo's goal into the left side netting. It was the CyberRays first shot of the game. They also scored on their second, taking the lead in the 37th minute.

The Spirit once again let a pass slip through into the penalty area as Kim Clark played a wide open Tisha Venturini-Hock, who doesn't miss too many one-on-chances and didn't miss this one, lifting the ball over Pagliarulo from eight yards out.

The Spirit got some gutsy play from forwards Mercy Akide, Tara Koleski and substitute Kerry Gragg, but Rohbock, who entered the game in the 63rd minute, scored the equalizer in the 74th.

Gragg sent a hard pass down the right flank that slid down the wet field with Rohbock in chase. She finally ran the ball down almost on the endline on the right side of the goal, cut back on a defender and slipped her shot under Szpara from close range.

"When I cut it back, I saw a small opening, so I went for it," said Rohbock, who is a month removed from her role as an alternate on the U.S. Olympic Bobsled team in Salt Lake City.

"She showed me a bit of composure that I hadn't seen before," said Juarez of his former bobsledder. "It was important to throw her in the game against a good team to see what she could do."

The CyberRays took just two shots in the second half while the Spirit took six, and out-shot their California counterparts, 12-4 for the match.

The CyberRays suffered a bit of bad luck as defender Kelly Lindsey was helped off the field in the 59th minute with an injury to her left knee. She will be evaluated tomorrow.

Juarez played 19 players in the match, giving the night off only to defender Joy Fawcett and back-up goalkeepers Carly Smolak and Shelley Finger.

"We didn't put pressure on the ball in the midfield," said Juarez, when asked about how the San Jose goals were created. "When you allow the Brazilians to face up with no pressure, they're going to kill you. It's just like giving a good quarterback or a point guard space, you're eventually going to get hurt."

The Spirit will face the U.S. Under-21 and Under-19 National Teams, as well as the U.S. Amateur Team, in matches this week at the ARCO U.S. Olympic Training Center, before traveling to Las Vegas to face the CyberRays again on Saturday, March 23, in a benefit preseason match. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. at Cimarron High School.

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