San Jose CyberRays

The inaugural WUSA season was a bit of a roller-coaster ride for the San Jose CyberRays. Fortunately for the club, the ride ended with the team on top.

After starting the season 1-4-1 and the CyberRays mired in seventh place, coach Ian Sawyers made the necessary adjustments in strategy and lineup as the team finished 10-2-3 during the regular season. The CyberRays stormed into the playoffs, defeating New York 3-2 in the semifinals before winning the inaugural WUSA Founders Cup in a penalty-kick shootout over the Atlanta Beat following a 3-3 draw during regulation play.

CyberRays 2001 Leaders Goals  9  Julie Murray  Assists  10  Sissi  Points  19  Julie Murray  Minutes  1,890  Thori Bryan  Games Played  21  Thori Bryan Sissi  Games Started  21  Thori Bryan Sissi  Shots  75  Katia  Shots on Goal  46  Katia  Fouls Committed  39  Katia  Fouls Suffered  44  Brandi Chastain  Game-winning Goals  5  Katia  Penalty Kick Goals  2  Brandi Chastain  Saves  95  LaKeysia Beene  Goals Against Average  0.97  LaKeysia Beene

Given its experience and depth, San Jose's finish was not surprising. Eight CyberRays had World Cup experience, five had appeared in the Olympic Games and 12 had seen action for their respective national team.

Following a slow start that saw the CyberRays defense allow 10 goals in the first five games in 2001, the back line regrouped and eventually finished second in WUSA team defense, allowing just 1.10 goals per game during the regular season. Led by U.S. national team standout Brandi Chastain (2g, 5a=9pts) and rising star Kelly Lindsey, the San Jose defense also saw the emergence of goalkeeper LaKeysia Beene. The Notre Dame product was named WUSA Goalkeeper of the Year after setting league standards for consecutive shutout games (six) and shutout minutes (624). She led the league with 95 saves, a save percentage of 83.3 and a 66.7 winning percentage.

With the defense bolstered by Thori Bryan, Australian national team starter Dianne Alagich, first-round draft pick Danielle Borgman and offseason acquisition Michelle French from Washington, Chastain may move into the midfield for the 2002 season. With the addition of French, the team now has five defenders who have played for their national teams in a World Cup or Olympics.

With the retirement of Australian forward Julie Murray (9g, 1a), the CyberRays lost both their leading scorer and the Most Valuable Player of the 2001 WUSA championship game. In a subsequent offseason trade with Washington, the CyberRays acquired Brazilian forward Pretinha (5g, 2a),

Washington's second-leading scorer in 2001. Pretinha will join forward Katia (7g, 1a) and midfielder Sissi (1g, 10a), one of three CyberRays on the 2001 All-WUSA first team, to give the San Jose attack a distinctly Brazilian flavor.

Tisha Venturini-Hoch (3g, 3a) and Carey Dorn, who played her way into a starting position last year with strong marking skills, joins Sissi in the midfield. Forward Christina Bell (2g, 4a) became a starter in midseason and was a key factor in the team's climb from last place to a first-place tie by year's end.

Facts and Figures
Investor-Operators:	John S. Hendricks and PH Soccer, LLC
General Manager:	Marlene Bjornsrud
Head Coach:	Ian Sawyers
2001 Finish:	11-6-4 (37 points), WUSA Champions
2001 Offensive Ranking:	7th, (27 goals, 1.29 per game)
2001 Defensive Ranking:	2nd, (23 goals, 1.10 per game)
Home Stadium, Soccer Capacity, Field Size:	Spartan Stadium, 16,500, 70 yds. x 110 yds.
2001 Average Attendance:	7,698
Top Returning Scorer:	Katia (7 goals + 1 assist = 15 points)
Key Returning Players:	F Katia, M Sissi, M Tisha Venturini, D Kelly Lindsey, D Brandi Chastain, GK LaKeysia Beene
New Players of Note:	F Pretinha, D Michelle French
Key Players Departed:	F Julie Murray

 

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