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San Diego Spirit Posted: Thursday April 11, 2002 6:18 PM
With world-class stars such as Julie Foudy, Shannon MacMillan, Fan Yunjie and Joy Fawcett, the San Diego Spirit were considered by some to be among the elite teams during the inaugural WUSA season. But after a slow start, the Spirit made a late run for a playoff spot that was ultimately decided on the final weekend of the 2001 season. San Diego finished in fifth place at 7-7-7, three points shy of the final playoff berth. The absence of U.S. national team defender Fawcett -- who missed the first 14 games of the season while her third child was born -- was keenly felt. Without Fawcett in the starting lineup, San Diego went 4-7-4. With her in the starting lineup, the Spirit were 3-0-3, including wins over both teams that reached the inaugural WUSA championship game (San Jose and Atlanta).
Although the Spirit did not qualify for the playoffs, San Diego fans came out in full force as the club sold out 93 percent of its seating capacity, including five sellout crowds. MacMillan (12g, 6a) was the runaway team MVP in 2001, leading the Spirit in scoring and finishing second in the WUSA scoring race. More recently, she had a strong offseason with the U.S. national team, scoring seven of the Americans' eight goals at the Algarve Cup in Portugal. MacMillan combines with skillful Nigerian forward Mercy Akide (4g, 4a), the 2000 African Female Player of the Year, and newcomer Zhang Ouying from China's national team to give the Spirit three scoring threats. Also, Shauna Rohbock, an alternate on the U.S. women's bobsledding team at the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake, may be among the WUSA's most athletic players. Rohbock scored opportune goals during preseason to earn a spot on the roster. Team captain Foudy, whose seven assists tied for fourth in the WUSA, was the focal point of the opposing teams' defensive tactics in almost every match. Adding the hardness to the midfield was Shannon Boxx (3g, 5a). The ironwoman of the Spirit, Boxx started all 21 matches and led the team in fouls suffered and fouls committed. Top draft pick Lori Lindsey, a two-time ACC Player of the Year at Virginia, will learn from Foudy and should see significant playing time as the season progresses. On the back line, the Spirit boasted two of China's greatest players, defenders Fan Yunjie and Wen Lirong, forming a "Great Wall" in the center of the defense in 2001, but the 32-year-old Wen retired during the offseason due to an eye injury. San Diego will have Fawcett back in 2002 for the whole season. Adding depth to the back line are three rugged defenders in Rhiannon Tanaka, Margaret Tietjen and Kim Pickup. Tanaka continued her rise as a top defender in the WUSA with solid performances in 17 games last year. Tietjen showed glimpses of a promising career, as she proved effective as an attacking force, finishing tied for second on the team with five assists. Goalkeeper Jaime Pagliarulo developed into one of the finest young netminders in the country. "Pags" will anchor the defense once again. In 2001, she started 15 matches and earned a reputation for making big saves with a dramatic flair.
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