Kim Pickup's flip throw-in created the game-winner for the Spirit. (Credit: ALLSPORT) Email photo to friend

SAN DIEGO (April 27, 2003) - The San Diego Spirit came from behind to with two goals in an eight-minute span in the second half to defeat the San Jose CyberRays, 2-1, in front of a crowd of 5,965 at Torero Stadium. Scottish international Julie Fleeting paced the Spirit attack, firing eight shots and scoring the tying goal while a CyberRays own goal off a long throw-in from Kim Pickup the 61st minute gave San Diego the win.

The win Spirit moved the Spirit to 2-1-0 (6 points) on the season and above the .500 mark for the first time in club history while the CyberRays dropped to 1-2-0. Both teams played without Brazilians – Katia and Pretinha for San Jose and Daniela for San Diego – as they are currently in Peru with their national team for 2003 Women’s World Cup qualifying.

San Jose tallied first in the 49th minute after Spirit midfielder Julie Foudy was disposed in the midfield by the CyberRays Ann Cook who then fed Sissi. The Brazilian placed a perfect ball through to the rushing Tisha Venturini-Hoch, who slid to drive a perfect shot into the upper left corner past charging Spirit goalkeeper Jaime Pagliarulo.

Pagliarulo had come up big on two quality chances earlier in the game she tipped a Christina Bell header over the crossbar in the 15th minute and then guided a Sissi shot from 35 yards over the bar in the 29th minutes.

Five minutes after going behind, San Diego tied the match on a wonderful finish from Fleeting. Fleeting’s second goal of the year came from eight yards out as she ran onto a perfect service from Shannon MacMillan to volley past CyberRays goalkeeper LaKeysia Beene. Fleeting took a season team-high eight of the Spirit’s 16 shots on goal. Beene was forced to make nine saves in the match, while Pagliarulo recorded only two in her second win of the season.

Beene played a big role in the 61st minute own-goal off a flip throw-in by Kim Pickup. Pickup’s toss from the right sideline sailed into the middle of the six-yard box and, with a big group of Spirit and CyberRays players converging on the ball, it glanced off Beene’s hands into the CyberRays net.

San Diego travels to Boston next Saturday to meet the Breakers in the second game of a MLS/WUSA doubleheader at Gillette Stadium, kickoff 3:30 p.m. PT. The game will not be televised.

MATCH SUMMARY
San Jose - 0 1= 1
San Diego - 0 2= 2

Scoring Summary:
SJC -- Tisha Venturini-Hoch 1 (Sissi 1, Ann Cook 1) 49
SD -- Julie Fleeting 2 (Christine Latham 1, Shannon MacMillan 1) 54
SD -- own goal (LaKeysia Beene) 61

Page 2 - Spirit Defeat CyberRays, 2-1

San Jose CyberRays -- LaKeysia Beene, Keri Sanchez, Thori Bryan (Kelly Lindsey, 78), Brandi Chastain, Michelle French, Betsy Barr, Ann Cook (Melinda Carter, 89), Sissi, Tisha Venturini-Hoch, Mandy Clemens (Amanda Cromwell, 65), Christina Bell (Dianne Alagich, 72).
TOTAL SHOTS: 10 (Sissi 3, Tisha Venturini-Hoch 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (Tisha Venturini-Hoch 2); FOULS: 9 (Ann Cook 4); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 4 (Sissi 3); SAVES: 9 (LaKeysia Beene 9); Misconduct Summary: None.

San Diego Spirit -- Jaime Pagliarulo, Kerry Connors, Joy Fawcett, Kim Pickup, Lisa Krzykowski, Zhang Ouying (Allie Sullivan, 54), Julie Foudy, Aly Wagner (Ronnie Fair, 86), Christine Latham, Shannon MacMillan, Julie Fleeting.
TOTAL SHOTS: 16 (Julie Fleeting 8); SHOTS ON GOAL: 10 (Julie Fleeting 7); FOULS: 9 (Julie Foudy 2, Christine Latham 2); OFFSIDES: 4 (Julie Fleeting 2, Christine Latham 2); CORNER KICKS: 3 (Shannon MacMillan 3); SAVES: 2 (Jaime Pagliarulo 2); Misconduct Summary: None.

Referee: David Simon;
Referee's Assistants: -Brenda Wright; Diane Diggers
4th Official: Pat Novak
Attendance: 5,965
Weather: 63, Sunny and Breezy

QUOTES
Spirit head coach Omid Namazi on his National Team players after playing two games in two days….
“They were tired, but they wanted to play and show our crowd that we can play a lot better than we did in the first game. We didn’t want to change our starting lineup so we would keep the continuity and that’s what we did.”

Omid Namazi on Pickup’s throw-in resulting in a goal…
“We wanted it more than them. They had as much of an opportunity to clear the ball as we did to put it in. We were just being aggressive and attacking the ball.”

Ian Sawyers not having Katia and Pretinha…
“It was a significant loss, we have one of the top goal scorers in the league with Katia and Pretinha is playing well this year, so it was a huge impact on our game, but it gives a huge opportunity to step up.”

Kim Pickup on being a part of the offense…
“Everyone plays both ways, but it is nice to know that you have a specific role in the scoring attack. I‘m glad that I can help this team win in any way possible, whether it be in the back or up front.”

Julie Fleeting on her goal…
“There are so many good players in this league that is always tough to score goals, but we created good opportunities in this game and came out on top. Mac served me a great play and I was able to get on the end of it and finish.”

NOTES