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Spirit Falls to Beat, 4-1, in Front of Record Crowd at Torero

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


SAN DIEGO (Wednesday, July 31, 2002) - The San Diego Spirit played a match that was not reflective of the final score, out-shooting the Atlanta Beat 15-14, but finding the net just once in a 4-1 loss. The game was played on a sparkling night at Torero Stadium as a team-record 6,392 fans turned out on the Spirit's first and only Wednesday night game of the year.

"It is frustrating, the players take it personally, and they really take it to heart," said Spirit interim head coach Kevin Crow on the loss in front of the big crowd. "It is not because they are not trying or playing unattractive soccer, they play good soccer and leave everything out on the field and I think the fans appreciate that."

The Spirit fell to 4-10-4 (16 pts.) while the Beat moved to 10-7-1 (31 points) and just a little bit closer to a berth in the playoffs. With the loss, the Spirit was eliminated from playoff contention with three matches left in the season.

"We just could not get the ball in the back of the net and we did not finish our chances," said forward Shannon MacMillan, summing up the game and the Spirit's season. "Atlanta looked great, they are known as a physical team, but they came out played good passing soccer. They played great tonight."

The Spirit actually scored first in the match before giving up four straight goals and created numerous scoring opportunities throughout the game, only to have the final pass and the finishing touch fail them repeatedly.

San Diego tallied in the 18th minute through Scottish international Julie Fleeting, who scored her third goal in her fourth start. Julie Foudy chipped a pass at the Beat restraining line to Jenny Mascaro, who was making a run across the top of the penalty area. Mascaro flicked the ball, freezing the Beat defender, and it rolled right to Fleeting, who stuck her shot just inside the left corner past the diving Briana Scurry.

The Beat pulled even in the 25th minute as Sun Wen penetrated up the middle on the dribble. Rhiannon Tanaka was right on her hip to block the shot, but the ball rebounded behind Tanaka and Sun gobbled up the fortunate bounce, drove to goal and rolled her shot past Spirit goalkeeper Carly Smolak and into the left corner.

In the 28th minute, Lori Lindsey had a go from 40 yards out that had Scurry scrambling, but it flew over the crossbar. The Beat then took the lead in the 34th minute as Lisa Kryskowski played a pass behind the Spirit defense. Charmaine Hooper dummied the ball, freezing Joy Fawcett momentarily as the ball skipped past Spirit back line to Sawa, who dribbled at goal and easily rolled her shot past Smolak and into the left corner from 14 yards out.

After playing a solid first half, the Spirit went into the break just a goal down, but the Beat scored 25 seconds into the second half to put San Diego into a deep hole. Sawa collected long ball in the left side of the penalty area, dribbled inside and then rolled it back to Hooper with her heel. Hooper then beat a defender and knocked the ball into the right corner past the stranded Smolak. Briana Scurry played an excellent match in the Beat goal and made a big save in the 57th minute, turning away a point-blank volley from Joy Fawcett. From there, the Spirit ran at the Beat goal and kept Scurry busy, but couldn't find a way past her. In the 60th minute, Lori Lindsey looped a header just over the crossbar. In the 63rd minute, Sherrill Kester motored around the outside of the Beat defense on the right side and spun a great cross into the middle, but Mascaro just got her toe on ball and slid it wide left of goal. In the 68th minute, Mascaro puts Kester behind the defense, but Scurry came off her line to snag Kester's soft shot.

Despite the Spirit chances, it was the Beat that got another goal as in the 72nd minute, Julie Augustyniak beat Tanaka down left flank and hit a hard cross that bounced off Anna Kraus' chest and right to Sawa, who struck a nice volley into the left corner from eight yards out.

In the final five minutes, the Spirit had several chances, including a header by Fleeting in the 85th minute that flew just wide right and a shot by Fleeting that hit the crossbar in the 89th minute.

The Spirit leaves tomorrow for its final road trip of the season and its first two-game road swing of the season. San Diego plays at the Philadelphia Charge on Saturday, Aug. 3, before traveling to Atlanta to face the Beat again on Wednesday, Aug. 7. The Spirit returns home for its season finale against the Carolina Courage on Aug. 11. Kickoff for that match is 5 p.m.

"That is what being a pro is all about," said Crow of his team's last three games. "We have good veteran leadership on this team and the players will play with pride and character. This team is really resilient, both mentally and physically."



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


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