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Spirit Defeat Beat, 1-0, on Foudy Goal from

August 7, 2002 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
San Diego Spirit News Release


ATLANTA (Wednesday, August 7, 2002) - Spirit captain Julie Foudy scored a goal that that had impact in both Southern and Northern California on Wednesday night to lead the San Diego Spirit to a 1-0 win over the Atlanta Beat at Herndon Stadium. It was the Spirit's second road win of the season.

The Beat, who are in a battle with the San Jose CyberRays for the fourth and final WUSA playoff berth, failed to clinch a post-season berth for the second match in a row. Atlanta lost 3-2 to the Washington Freedom in their last match when a tie in either of the two games would have sent the Beat to the playoffs. The Spirit's victory allowed Foudy's husband, CyberRays head coach Ian Sawyers, to remain in the hunt on the final weekend of the season. The CyberRays need to win their last match at Boston while Atlanta, needing just that elusive point, hosts Philadelphia.

"I really did not want Atlanta to make the playoffs by beating us, we did not want that," said Foudy. Her goal was celebrated in Philadelphia where the CyberRays tied the Charge, 1-1, as Foudy received a thank-you call from CyberRays players and her husband after the game.

San Diego (5-11-4, 19 points) took a page from Atlanta's book by scoring at the beginning of the second half. Last week, the Beat scored 26 seconds into the second half to ice their 4-1 win at Torero Stadium. Tonight, the dangerous Kim Pickup flip throw-in, which started the scoring play from the right sideline, paid dividends for the first time this season. Shannon MacMillan headed the throw-in to the middle of the penalty box, where an unmarked Foudy ran onto the ball and put away a 12-yard rocket past a sprawling Briana Scurry for her career-high fifth goal of the season. "Miracles never cease," said Foudy. "They did not track me and Mac's flick put the ball in a good position for me to run onto for the goal." MacMillan tallied her team-high seventh assist of the 2002 campaign.

Atlanta (10-9-1, 31 pts.) had the better of the scoring chances in the first 45 minutes of play, out-shooting San Diego, 9-5. The Beat had two stellar opportunities within a two-minute span. The first in the 21st minute of play came when Sun Wen's shot bounced off the crossbar to the foot of Charmaine Hooper, whose follow-up shot was saved by a diving Carly Smolak. Homare Sawa was on the end of a terrific Beat passing sequence a minute later, but a diving Smolak saved her shot from 19-yards out.

The Spirit's offense was disjointed at times in the offensive third, failing to complete the final pass to open players inside the penalty area. A combination play that began in the midfield in the 25th minute was the best performance of the half by San Diego. Julie Fleeting flicked a Mascaro pass to an unguarded Shannon MacMillan, but Scurry saved her off-balance shot.

Carly Smolak made four saves on four shots on goal to record her second career shutout. "The defense was very organized in front of me tonight. (Assistant coach) Tommy (Tate) stressed to us before the game about keeping the Beat players in front of you and staying in our zones."

The Spirit plays their final match of the 2002 WUSA campaign on Sunday, August 11, 5 p.m., against the playoff-bound Carolina Courage on Fan Appreciation Night. Also, the popular blockbuster movie "Shrek" will be shown on the stadium's big screen immediately following the game. The match will air live on Channel 4 San Diego, beginning at 5 p.m.



Women's United Soccer Association Stories from August 7, 2002


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