[tcmahoney]

2-1, CyberRays. We got the job done, although it was touch-and-go for a while. Giving up a goal in the fourth minute of play is not recommended SOP for low-scoring teams that need to pile up points in the table.

But after Hoffmann's unassisted goal for Philly, Katia equalized in the 41st minute off an assist from Sanchez and the departing Tish, and Katie Barnes picked a great time for her second goal of the season, scoring in the 61st minute with assistance from Sissi and Christina Bell.

Whew.

Why did Lindsey come on for Cromwell in the 16th minute? And, more importantly, why did Katia leave in the 56th minute? (Not that I'm going to knock Bell, who replaced her. You ring Bells, not knock them. Sorry, bad pun.)

The boxscore from WUSA's matchtracker:

Philadelphia Charge (3-10-4) vs. San Jose CyberRays (6-8-2)
July 20, 2003 -- Spartan Stadium



Goals by Period 1 2 Tot
Philadelphia Charge 1 0 1
San Jose CyberRays 1 1 2

Scoring Summary:
PHI -- Melanie Hoffmann 5 (unassisted) 4
SJC -- Katia 3 (Keri Sanchez 4, Tisha Venturini-Hoch 2) 41
SJC -- Katie Barnes 2 (Sissi 5, Christina Bell 1) 61

Philadelphia Charge -- Hope Solo, Jenny Benson, Rachel Kruze, Mary McVeigh, Jennifer Tietjen-Prozzo, Lorrie Fair, Emily Burt (Darci Borski 74), Erin Misaki (Beth McNamara 74), Stacey Tullock, Marinette Pichon, Melanie Hoffmann.

TOTAL SHOTS: 7 (3 tied with 2); SHOTS ON GOAL: 1 (Melanie Hoffmann 1); FOULS: 4 (4 tied with 1); OFFSIDES: 3 (Melanie Hoffmann 2); CORNER KICKS: 7 (Jenny Benson 3, Melanie Hoffmann 3); SAVES: 2 (Hope Solo 2)

San Jose CyberRays -- LaKeysia Beene, Thori Bryan, Dianne Alagich, Michelle French, Amanda Cromwell (Kelly Lindsey 16), Sissi, Betsy Barr, Keri Sanchez, Tisha Venturini-Hoch (Ann Cook 89), Katia (Christina Bell 56), Katie Barnes (Katie Antongiovanni 76).

TOTAL SHOTS: 11 (Sissi 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (4 tied with 1); FOULS: 7 (Dianne Alagich 2, Katia 2); OFFSIDES: 5 (Christina Bell 2, Katia 2); CORNER KICKS: 2 (Michelle French 1, Sissi 1); SAVES: 0



Misconduct Summary:

Referee: Jesse Johnson
Referee's Assistants: -Fabio Tovar; Dinesh Singh
4th Official: Colin Arblaster
Attendance: 5,243
Time of Game: 1:48
Weather: Sunny-and-91-degrees

All Statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial


------------------------

Give me a D! Give me an I! Give me an S! Give me a C! ...

[AB1FAN]

All I want to know is, is Amanda ok?!

I think Kelly is great, but it is NOT normal to sub out a healthy player in the 16th min.

[SomebodyOrOther]

Originally posted by AB1FAN
All I want to know is, is Amanda ok?!

I think Kelly is great, but it is NOT normal to sub out a healthy player in the 16th min.

Amanda seems to be OK--there was no obvious injury.

The goal that was allowed was a direct result of our defense being disorganized. As soon as the goal was scored, Ian signaled to Boof to warm up. I think it was a question of getting the player who's been the 'Rays organizer for the past 2 years in the game, rather than there being something necessarily wrong with Sal.

Bell game in for Katia because Katia looked pooped. Bellie brought a much better level of energy. Really hot out here today.

Overall, we looked pretty good! More later! Glad we got the 3 points!!!

[AB1FAN]

Originally posted by SomebodyOrOther
Amanda seems to be OK--there was no obvious injury.

The goal that was allowed was a direct result of our defense being disorganized. As soon as the goal was scored, Ian signaled to Boof to warm up. I think it was a question of getting the player who's been the 'Rays organizer for the past 2 years in the game, rather than there being something necessarily wrong with Sal.

Thanks for the info, you wondeyful!

I'm glad Sal is ok!

[Druid Squirrel]

Originally posted by tcmahoney


Why did Lindsey come on for Cromwell in the 16th minute? And, more importantly, why did Katia leave in the 56th minute?

It looked like Cromwell might have been having a little trouble running, but there was no obvious injury. It was either a tactical change, or something relatively minor like a pulled muscle. As much as the All-Ouch team needs another center back, I don't think Cromwell will qualify.

Katia came out because after she scored, she stopped playing. She sprinted the length of the field to score, so I could underdstand her taking the rest of the first half -- only about four minutes -- off, but when the second half started she was still unable to run. The heat was brutal, so it was somewhat understandable, but it was still disappointing so see her go.

Philly's goal came after the Rays were unable to clear a corner kick. The ball pinged around the area until it landed perfectly for an unmarked Hoffman to blast it home.

Katia's goal came on a counter-attack. Play was deep in the Rays end (probably for a Charge corner kick), but the ball was cleared and suddenly there were three Rays charging up the right side. (I may have Sanchez and Tisha reversed in what follows -- someone please correct me.) Tisha and Katia were running ahead of Sanchez, who had the ball. Katia ran into an offside position, but Sanchez played the ball forward to Tisha. The linesman kept his flag down, Katia became onside again as the defense retreated, and Tisha passed it to her. Katia then outraced a defender, rounded the keeper, then scored from a tight angle outside the right post.

The second goal was the result of some good possession play by the 'Rays. They worked the ball up the center, and then someone found Bell making a run into the right side of the area. Bell -- showing more skill than I thought she had in her -- cut the ball back and crossed it to Sissi. Sissi then, with one perfect touch, artfully plucked the ball from the air and redirected it over her shoulder into the path of Barnes who was cutting in from the left. Barnes then buried it inside the far post.

Oh yes, the formation was the usual 4-2-3-1.

Beene; Alagich, Bryan, Cromwell (Boof), French; Barr, Sissi; Sanchez, Tisha, Barnes; Katia (Bell).

[tcmahoney]

BTW, unless I completely miss my calculations, Philly is just about mathematically gone as well as virtually gone from the playoff picture. They can only hit 24 points now, and that's the total that San Diego and Washington (the number 3 and 4 teams) have right now.

[rbatc]

Originally posted by SomebodyOrOther
Amanda seems to be OK--there was no obvious injury.

The goal that was allowed was a direct result of our defense being disorganized. As soon as the goal was scored, Ian signaled to Boof to warm up. I think it was a question of getting the player who's been the 'Rays organizer for the past 2 years in the game, rather than there being something necessarily wrong with Sal.

Bell game in for Katia because Katia looked pooped. Bellie brought a much better level of energy. Really hot out here today.

Overall, we looked pretty good! More later! Glad we got the 3 points!!!

Our defense looked SO much better with Boof and Di out there! Nice run by Thori at the end of the game, although she looked surprised when she was alone with just the keeper between her and the goal! Also, if it wasn't just sheer surprise at being up there alone (after starting the play that began the counter), good sportsmanship by Thori to not bury the ball when it was obvious the 'Rays were going to win, and that once the ball was out the game was over. Although I do always say play to the whistle!

[sQuEeKyGiGgLeZ]

woohoo! we got the job done and ended up with 3 points and i was happy to see Boof and Di out there with Frenchie the backline looked much much more stable and now i understand what makes Boof such a good player... ok i'll stop about Boof and onto BELLIE!

it was great seeing Bellie back on the field and she did bring energy to the game and umm my memory's failing me right now but i'll have the pictures from section 125 up in a couple hours

[Charge!]

How did the Charge fare in your opinion? Is the one shot on goal tie a league record for fewest shots?

Paul

[Roel]

With Brandi out, how did Frenchie do in terms of communicating with her fellow players? She strikes me as a natural leader, and with Kelly and Brandi not in the starting line-up, was Frenchie is the captain?