Spirit Top Breakers in Scorefest
July 6, 2002 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) News Release
SAN DIEGO, CA - A penalty kick in stoppage time by Julie Foudy led the San Diego Spirit (3-7-3, 11 pts.) to a 5-4 victory over the Boston Breakers (3-6-5, 14 pts.) on Saturday afternoon at Torero Stadium. The PK, Foudy's second goal of the match, gave the Spirit its first victory since May 19. Boston's Kristine Lilly notched two goals and an assist in the losing effort. The nine combined goals registered in the match set a new WUSA record in scoring.
With time winding down, San Diego's Zhang Ouying was on a break down the right side of the field. In an attempt to prevent Zhang from producing anything offensively, Boston defender Chrisy McCann tried to battle the Chinese international off of the ball. A foul was called on McCann in the area, resulting in the penalty kick attempt by Foudy. In the second minute of stoppage time, Foudy buried the ball to the right of goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc, giving San Diego the 5-4 edge.
Boston got on the board early with a goal in the 13th minute. Lilly recorded the score on a free kick from the right side of the area. Lilly struck the ball with her left foot, bending the shot towards the upper right corner of the net. San Diego goalkeeper Jaime Pagliarulo got her hands on the shot however, the ball found the back of the net.
San Diego tied the match in the 17th minute with a goal by Shannon Boxx. San Diego defender Anna Kraus sent a long pass into the Boston area. The Breakers' defense broke up the Spirit attack, clearing the ball out of the area. However, defender Monica Gonzalez cleared the ball to San Diego's Boxx. From the top of the area, the midfielder blasted a shot, beating LeBlanc to her left. The goal was the first of the season for Boxx.
The Spirit took a 2-1 lead in the 23rd minute. Foudy recorded her second goal of the 2002 season with a header to the upper left corner. Foudy started the play sending a pass to Sherrill Kester on the right side of the field. Before going over the end line. Kester crossed the ball to the far post where Foudy registered the score.
Lilly notched her second goal of the match in the 28th minute, tying the game at 2-2. San Diego defender Joy Fawcett attempted to clear the ball down the field. Lilly blocked the pass with her leg, causing a turnover in the Spirit third of the field. On a breakaway, Lilly pushed the ball to the lower right corner to beat Pagliarulo for the score.
Boston took a 3-2 lead in the 36th minute. Maren Meinert recorded her seventh goal of the season. After passing the ball to Meinert, Lilly made a run to the left side of the field. From 30 yards out, Meinert blasted a shot that beat Pagliarulo, who misplayed the shot due to Lilly's run.
Fawcett drew the Spirit even with the Breakers in the 39th minute with her first goal of the season. Collecting a cleared ball from the Boston area, Boxx chipped in a cross to an unmarked Fawcett in the right side of the area. Fawcett headed the cross past a sprawling LeBlanc to draw the game at 3-3.
Lori Lindsey continued the scoring for San Diego in the second half, recording her second goal of the season in the 56th minute. Lindsey redirected a corner kick by Shannon MacMillan on a near-post run, striking the ball with the inside of her right foot to give the Spirit the 4-3 lead.
Boston tied the match in the 66th minute with Sarah Yohe's first goal of the season. Meinert passed the ball to Angela Hucles on the right side of the field. Hucles sent a pass into Yohe, who was standing on the edge of the six-yard box. San Diego defender Fawcett was marking Yohe and lost her footing, leaving the second half substitute open for the shot on net. Yohe shot the ball past Carly Smolak, who came into the game at half time for Pagliarulo.
The first half of the match set the WUSA record for combined goals scored in a half with six.
Women's United Soccer Association Stories from July 6, 2002
- Spirit Record Wild 5-4 Win Over Breakers - San Diego Spirit
- Spirit Top Breakers in Scorefest - WUSA
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