Sports stats



Washington stretches streak by shutting out CyberRays

April 19, 2003 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
San Jose CyberRays News Release


SAN JOSE (April 19, 2003) – Early season matches against the Washington Freedom have become a bitter pill for the CyberRays. For the third time in as many seasons the trans-continental rivalry has been played as either the first or second game on the CyberRays' schedule, and Washington has won all three.

Tonight Washington shut out the CyberRays 2-0, a WUSA-record 12th consecutive unbeaten regular season game for the Freedom.

``It was an emotional game, and we were emotionally flat,'' CyberRays coach Ian Sawyers said. ``That led us to make some costly errors in the first half.''

Ultimately the costliest of those errors was a hand ball called on CyberRays defender Keri Sanchez in the penalty box as she was trying to shield a Washington player from a high, bouncing ball. That gave Mia Hamm a penalty kick, which she buried in the right side of the goal.

In the 16th minute Sanchez ripped a shot from the top of the penalty arc that Washington goalkeeper Siri Mullinix tipped over the cross bar in the first of seven saves she had for the game.

``Making saves like that just pumps everybody up,'' Mullinix said. ``It's never an easy day against the CyberRays.''

Former CyberRay Jacqui Little helped create the other goal in first-half stoppage time that effectively iced the game. She brought the ball down the right sideline, crossed into the box, and Lori Lindsey got her head on it near the far post to score.

Katia had three good chances in the second half for the CyberRays, but her header in the 50th minute was a foot wide left, her 15-yarder in the 70th minute sailed high and a ripper from 15 yards in the 81st was tipped over the bar.

``It was frustrating for me because we had great, great chances to score,'' she said.

Defender Brandi Chastain, whose 25-yard free kick in the 80th minute was barely high, said ``That's our M.O.: lots of chances, no goals. But we've got a lot of goal scorers on this team, and we'll work it out.''

The CyberRays pressed hard in the second half, getting 11 corner kicks, part of a WUSA single-game mark of 19, seven more than the old record.

The CyberRays will be on the road for their next two games, playing the San Diego Charge on April 27 and the Atlanta Beat on May 3, before returning to Spartan Stadium on May 10 to play the 2002 WUSA champion Carolina Courage in the Lark and Roger Chastain Celebration Game, honoring Brandi's late parents.

• Discuss this story on the Women's United Soccer Association message board...

Women's United Soccer Association Stories from April 19, 2003


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.

Other Recent San Jose CyberRays Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central