Spirit Takes Talent to WUSA All-Star Game Thursday

June 16, 2003 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
San Diego Spirit News Release


The San Diego Spirit is at the halfway mark of the season, and four Spirit players forward Julie Fleeting, midfielders Aly Wagner, Julie Foudy, and defender Joy Fawcett will compete in this year's 2003 Hyundai WUSA All-Star Game in Cary, NC on June 19 at 4:30 p.m. PT, the game will be televised live on ESPN2. This year is the first time that the All-Star game will be held during the season. Last year's inaugural WUSA All-Star Game was held at the end of the season in Portland, OR, where the South All-Stars beat the North All-Stars, 6-1, before a crowd of 14,208. Spirit players that participated in last season's All-Star game were defender Joy Fawcett, midfielder Julie Foudy and forward Shannon MacMillan. The format for this year's All-Star game works well with the upcoming Women's World Cup, as the two teams will be divided into the U.S. All-Stars and the World All-Stars, thus showcasing the world's best female soccer players in one of the finest stadiums in the country, SAS Stadium. This game will give a great heads up preview to the talent that will be displayed at this year's World Cup in the United States beginning in late September.

QUICK GLANCE AT THE SPIRIT

NEXT MATCH: Saturday, June 21, 1 p.m. PT, vs. New York Power, Torero Stadium, PAX TV
LAST MATCH: Saturday, June 14, 0-2 Loss against Philadelphia, @ Villanova Stadium, PA.
RECORD: 3-3-4, 13 pts., 5th place
LEADING SCORER: Julie Fleeting, 4 goals, 1 assist = 9 points
INJURIES: Shannon MacMillan, Torn R ACL, Out

NEXT ON THE SLATE: Saturday, June 21, vs. New York Power, Torero Stadium, 1 p.m. PT

The Spirit faces the New York Power Saturday, June 21, in the second meeting between the two teams, but the first at Torero Stadium. The Spirit recorded a 2-0 victory at New York on April 19 on goals from Shannon MacMillan (which turned out to be her only goal of the year) and Julie Fleeting. The match against the Power brings three former Spirit players back to Torero Stadium, midfielder Shannon Boxx, goalkeeper Carly Smolak and defender Margaret Tietjen, all part of the trade that brought the WUSA's #1 pick and Aly Wagner to San Diego.

FIFA WOMEN'S WORLD CUP USA 2003 SCHEDULE AND LOGO UNVEILED

U.S. Soccer President Dr. S. Robert Contiguglia and FIFA Executive Committee member Worawi Makudi unveiled the entire 32-match, 23-day tournament schedule for the FIFA Women's World Cup USA 2003 at a press conference today at RFK Stadium, site of the tournament's first U.S. Women's National Team match and opening ceremonies on Sunday, Sept. 21. Washington, D.C. to Host First U.S. Women's Match & Opening Ceremonies on Sept. 21. Tournament Begins Sept. 20 in Philadelphia and Runs through Oct. 12. To read more please go to .

SPIRIT U-T YOUTH & FAMILY DAY THIS SATURDAY, JUNE 21 FOR NEW YORK POWER GAME

SAVE $24! The San Diego Union-Tribune is proud to sponsor U-T Youth & Family day on June 21, 2003. Purchase 4 tickets, 4 sodas, and 4 hotdogs for $44 to the June 21 game and you will SAVE $24! Some restrictions may apply, call 1-877-4SOCCER for details.

FREE ALY WAGNER BOBBLEHEAD TO FIRST 4,000 FANS ON JUNE 29!

The San Diego Spirit will feature their second bobblehead giveaway of the season as the first 4,000 fans attending the game on June 29 will receive one FREE Aly Wagner Bobblehead when the Spirit take on Brandi Chastain and the San Jose CyberRays. The club previously gave away a bobblehead of the team mascot, San D. Panda, to fans who purchased four tickets to any home game in April. On July 23, the team will giveaway its third and final bobblehead of the season, a Shannon MacMillan bobblehead.

SPIRIT SNAPSHOTS

San Diego is still off to the best start to a season with 13 points after 10 games; the club had 11 points in 2001 and eight in 2002...San Diego was shutout for the first time this season and the first time since July 27, 2001...San Diego is now 7-4-2 on national TV, with another appearance this week...San Diego is 2-3-4 without its national team players...Foudy has eight career goals and penalty kick goals in three consecutive games, she is now 4-for-5 on penalty kick attempts in her WUSA career... Midfielders Foudy, Aly Wagner and defender Joy Fawcett will return to the Spirit lineup after U.S. national team duty on June 14... Foudy recorded a goal and an assist as the U.S. defeated Ireland 5-0... San Diego ranks seventh in team offense (1.20 goals per game) and is tied for second in team defense (1.20 goals per game).

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

The Spirit continue the two-game home stand next week against the San Jose CyberRays on June 29, 5 p.m. and then hit the road for three consecutive matches, that will play an important part in their drive towards the playoffs. San Diego will travel to San Jose (July 2), Philadelphia (July 5) and Atlanta (July 9) before returning to the cozy confines on Torero Stadium to face Mia Hamm and the Washington Freedom on July 16.

GRASSROOTS EVENTS

6/19 - 6:30pm - 7:30pm,, AYSO Matrix Swoops, Bonita. Players will be swooping into the AYSO practice and signing autographs for the Bonita team.

6/21 - morning Alliance Tournament, Chula Vista. Spirit Patrol will be handing coupons to upcoming Spirit games and giving away free Spirit items.

6/22 - 11am - 2pm San Diego Scottish Highland Games. Come to Vista and check out Shannon Macmillan, Julie Fleeting, and other Spirit players at the SD Highland Games. Spirit Players will be signing autographs and the Spirit Patrol will be giving away free Spirit items.

QUOTES

Aly Wagner talking with David Beckham: Wagner, " Is the San Diego Spirit your favorite WUSA team?" Beckham, " Of course it is," Beckham answers with a grin.



Women's United Soccer Association Stories from June 16, 2003


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