Spirit Defeat Charge, 1-0

May 20, 2002 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
Philadelphia Charge News Release


SAN DIEGO, CA (May 19, 2002) - San Diego's Julie Foudy scored the only goal of the game and first of her WUSA career, as the Spirit beat the Philadelphia Charge 1-0 Sunday night at Torero Stadium. The setback was the first of the season for the Charge (4-1-0, 12 pts), who were shutout for the first time since July 7, 2001 but remained one-point ahead of the Carolina Courage for first place in the WUSA standings. San Diego (2-2-2), meanwhile, earned its first-ever win (1-2-1) over the Charge.

Charge captain Kelly Smith was held pointless for the first time in eight games, as she had a WUSA record seven-game point-scoring streak come to an end. Philadelphia had outscored its opponents 11-4 entering the game, but its streak of 12 straight regular-season games without being shutout came to an end.

Philadelphia was forced to play the game without defender Erica Iverson, who was serving a one-game suspension for receiving two yellow cards in the Charge's last game against the Washington Freedom. In Iverson's absence, rookie Karyn Hall earned her first career start. Hall was a fourth-round draft choice by the Charge in the 2002 WUSA Draft.

The Charge also had their WUSA record four-game winning streak halted, falling to 2-1 on the road this season.

Philadelphia travels to second-place Carolina next for a Saturday, May 25 encounter against the Courage. The Charge return home on June 1 to take on the defending WUSA champion San Jose Cyberrays and U.S. National Team member Brandy Chastain starting at 7:00 p.m. at Villanova Stadium. The first 5,000 kids 14 and under to the game will receive a team phot courtesy of PECO Energy.

The Charge were handed their first halftime deficit this season when the Spirit's U.S. National Team duo of Shannon MacMillan and Foudy connected for a goal. In the 43rd minute, MacMillan placed a free kick into the box right to the head of Foudy, who placed the ball passed Charge netminder Melissa Moore, who spent the 2001 preseason with the Spirit before getting picked off waivers by the Charge.

Philadelphia had a number of chances in the second half. The club's best chance came in the 49th minute when Marinette Pichon, who entered the game at halftime for Erin Martin, missed a point-blank shot wide right. After receiving a cross, Pichon shook her defender but couldn't connect.

Then, in the 79th minute, Liu Ailing had a scoring chance, but from 18 yards out shot the ball directly to Jaime Pagliarulo. Only a minute later, Mandy Clemens was foiled 15 yards out as Pagliarulo came off her line to stop the Charge forward. Smith later had a direct kick from 20 yards out but shot the ball directly to the San Diego keeper. Pagliarulo and Moore each ended with six saves apiece.

NOTES: Charge first-round draft pick Stacey Tullock saw her first action of the season after signing with the Charge this past Wednesday. The Arizona State product entered the game in the 81st minute for Clemens ... The Charge outshot the Spirit 12-11 ... The Courage are 3-0-2 for 11 points this season ... Attendance for the game was 5,779 ... The Charge were last shutout by the Carolina Courage, 2-0, last season ... Clemens had a two-game point-scoring streak come to an end.



Women's United Soccer Association Stories from May 20, 2002


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