Spirit vs. Courage Match Preview

June 28, 2002 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
San Diego Spirit News Release


The Spirit meets a Carolina team on a roll that has almost completely reversed its dismal performance last year when it finished last in the league. The Courage, who play in brand-new SAS Stadium, are also pretty much a brand new team, and have vaulted into a tie for first place with the Philadelphia Charge, who do have a game in hand over Carolina. The Courage's resurgence has been lead by five players who have put together outstanding seasons. Goalkeeper Kristin Luckinbill has been stellar in goal, leading the league in saves. In front of her, the WUSA's #1 draft pick, Danielle Slaton, has shown why she is a national team starter with a physical presence on a world-class level. Midfielder Hege Riise, one of the league's top players last year, has blossomed even more this season with an improved supporting cast and has 17 points already, an amazing total for a midfielder at this point in the season. Forwards Danielle Fotopoulos and Birgit Prinz (who has scored a point in every game since she arrived just before mid-season) have been almost unstoppable, as their size and speed have created tremendously difficult match-ups for the rest of the league. The Spirit is coming off an emotional 1-1 tie with the Charge, a match in which they played a woman down for 75 minutes and scored a short-handed goal, so San Diego is back playing with a bit of confidence. However, the Spirit has not won a game on the road all season, and has never beaten Carolina, so a win over the Courage would be huge in bouncing San Diego back into the hunt for a playoff spot. Still, the Spirit will be without Shannon MacMillan, who was left home with a foot injury, and Mercy Akide, who is suspended after receiving a red card last weekend. San Diego will look to Zhang Ouying for goals (she has five so far), as well as a midfield that has supplied just two scores so far this season.

COURAGE NOTES...

· The Courage is the only WUSA team the Spirit has never beaten.
· Last year, Carolina finished in a last-place tie in the standings.
· Carolina leads the league with 24 goals scored.
· Foreign players, M Hege Riise (17 pts) and F Birgit Prinz (13 pts) are ranked second and third in team scoring.

SPIRIT NOTES...

· San Diego has scored 14 goals, the fewest in the WUSA this season
· Defender Rhiannon Tanaka did not make the trip due to her hamstring injury.
· Mercy Akide is suspended for Saturday's match after receiving a red card last week vs. Philadelphia
· San Diego has allowed its opponent to score first in five straight matches.
· The Spirit defense is ranked seventh (1.91 goals per game).



Women's United Soccer Association Stories from June 28, 2002


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central