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Spirit Ties Beat, 1-1, on the Road as Fleeting Scores Again

May 10, 2003 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
San Diego Spirit News Release


ATLANTA - The San Diego Spirit notched its second 1-1 tie on the road in as many weeks, battling the Atlanta Beat to a draw in an end-to-end match with both goals coming in the second half. Julie Fleeting scored her fourth goal of the season off a header in the 67th minute before the Spirit gave up a soft goal eight minutes later to Maribel Dominguez and the match ended in deserved tie. The Spirit and the Beat remained tied in the WUSA standings with identical 2-1-2 records (8 points).

The tie kept the Spirit unbeaten on the road early in the season (1-0-2) with a home match against the Boston Breakers up next at Torero Stadium on Sunday, May 18. The match kicks off at 6 p.m. PT on Spirit T-Shirt Day and Military Day.

The game was exciting with both teams getting quality chances and a great performance from Spirit goalkeeper Jaime Pagliarulo went a long way to earn her team a valuable point on the road. The Spirit did dodge some early danger from the Beat, but played a solid first half and ended up out-shooting Atlanta 16-13 for the match.

The Spirit scored first on their eighth corner kick of the game as Shannon MacMillan bent a cross in from the left side. Fleeting jumped over Charmaine Hooper and Marcie Miller to acrobatically head the ball into the right corner of the net from six yards out. The Spirit set a team record with nine corner kicks in the match.

The Beat turned up the pressure after going down goal and tied the game just eight minutes later. Dominguez, a Mexican National Team star, latched onto the ball in the right side of the penalty area and, seemingly cut off by two Spirit defenders, hit a weak shot that deflected off the foot of Lisa Krzykowski, through her legs and rolled slowly through the Spirit defense and into the net past the screened Pagliarulo.

It was a low point on an otherwise stellar night for Pagliarulo, who pulled off two great reaction saves in the fist half, turning away a Cindy Parlow header and a hard shot from Homare Sawa.

The Spirit had their share of good chances, including a snapped header from Fleeting in the 11th minute that was well saved by Scurry. Christine Latham also struck a header over the top in the 34th minute and Wagner had a prime chance in the 41st, but drove her shot right at the Beat goalkeeper.

Rookie Abby Crumpton gave the Beat a spark in the second half, creating two early chances, but the Spirit could have scored as well, as Aly Wagner drove a dangerous shot over the top in the 58th minute and Sharolta Nonen pulled out a great tackle on Daniela after the Brazilian had popped free in the penalty area.

In the 60th minute, Fleeting ran onto a long ball and pounded her shot at Scurry's chest then Pagliarulo made a solid diving save off a Dominguez shot in the 73rd.

The Sprit was under siege in the final 15 minutes of the match, but managed to gut out the tie with some gritty defending as time ran out.

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Women's United Soccer Association Stories from May 10, 2003


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