Spirit Get First Win of Season and Namazi's First Win of WUSA Career

Published on April 19, 2003 under Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
San Diego Spirit News Release


UNIONDALE, N.Y. - The San Diego Spirit dodged a few early quality chances from the New York Power to earn its first win of the season, 2-0, as Shannon MacMillan and Julie Fleeting scored first-half goals. The Spirit moved to 1-1-0 (3 points) on the season, while the Power dropped to 0-3-0 (0 points). It was Spirit head coach Omid Namazi's first win as a WUSA head coach.

Starting four players that were not in the lineup in the Spirit's opening game against Boston (Joy Fawcett, Zhang Ouying, Fleeting and Daniela), San Diego put together a solid first half that included both goals and a missed penalty kick from Fleeting.

MacMillan opened the scoring in the 16th minute after running onto a through ball from Aly Wagner. MacMillan out-ran her defender in the right side of the penalty area and smoked a low shot under Power and former Spirit goalkeeper Carly Smolak. Fleeting could have made it 2-0 in the 20th minute when she was bundled down in the penalty area by Lauren Orlandos, but she struck the ensuing penalty kick off the cross bar.

Fleeting made amends eight minutes later, heading in a MacMillan corner from the right side, rising above her defender to snap a header off the diving Smolak's gloves and into the net.

The Spirit played a low-pressure defensive style in the second half, giving New York more of the game, but the Power could not solve the Spirit defense, which played a gutsy game. Spirit goalkeeper Jaime Pagliarulo played a fine match in picking up the shutout, making two great saves in the first half and numerous solid holds throughout the game.

MacMillan, whose goal and assist put her over 50 career points for her WUSA career (51 total) made a big play on the defense end in the second half, heading an Emily Janss shot off the goal line after it had looped over Pagliarulo following a Power corner kick.

The Spirit return home next Sunday, April 27 to face Brandi Chastain and the San Jose CyberRays at Torero Stadium. Kickoff is at 5 p.m. PT.

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Women's United Soccer Association Stories from April 19, 2003


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