Wambach Leads Rout
June 15, 2002 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) News Release
WASHINGTON, DC - Rookie forward Abby Wambach scored two goals and added an assist, and Mia Hamm continued to make an impact in the second game of her comeback from knee surgery as she had a goal and an assist to lead the Washington Freedom to a 4-0 victory over the San Diego Spirit Saturday evening at RFK Stadium.
Washington (4-4-3, 15 pts) picked up its second consecutive win, while San Diego (2-6-2, 8 pts.) lost its second straight match under interim Head Coach Kevin Crow.
Washington controlled play for the majority of the first half, with Wambach scoring in the 26th minute to put the Freedom up 1-0. Pu Wei's corner kick found Wambach just outside the six-yard box, and the University of Florida product jumped over three San Diego players as the ball caromed off the side of her rib cage and into the back of the net.
San Diego was plagued by injuries all evening as forward Shannon MacMillan (right foot strain), defender Rhiannon Tanaka (left hamstring strain) and defender Joy Fawcett (left calf strain) all could not continue in the match.
Despite first half injuries to MacMillan and Tanaka, San Diego came out and created many scoring opportunities in the second period. Unable to convert, the Spirit pressed on, but Anne Makinen's 79th-minute goal deflated San Diego's hopes. From the right wing, Wambach served a ball into Hamm who found Makinen wide open on the right side of the box. The Finnish national team star promptly hammered the ball past San Diego's Jaime Pagliarulo for her first goal of the season.
Just two minutes later, Washington put the nail in the coffin when San Diego's Kim Pickup took down Freedom midfielder Anne Cook in the penalty area, setting up Hamm for the penalty kick goal.
Wambach's 89th minute score set a Washington record for goals in a game, eclipsing the three scored in a 3-0 Freedom win at San Diego on May 4, 2002.
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Women's United Soccer Association Stories from June 15, 2002
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- Wambach Leads Rout - WUSA
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