(May 18, 2002)

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CyberRays Frustrated Again
This Time in 89th Minute

SAN JOSE CA (May 18, 2002) - Frustration has become an utterable word among the CyberRays.

For the fourth time in six games this season, the CyberRays surrendered a goal in the closing minutes of a match to either tie or lose. And in today's 2-1 loss to the Atlanta Beat, that goal - which was a Charmaine Hooper header in the 89th minute - ruined a CyberRays attack that had dominated play. Atlanta, which lost last season's WUSA Championship Game to the CyberRays, has not lost to the CyberRays in four regular-season matches.

``It's frustrating for all of us and all of our fans,'' coach Ian Sawyers said. ``But we got what we deserved. We faced a team at the bottom of the league that didn't create a lot of chances, so they're going to rely on your mistakes.''

Despite out-shooting Atlanta 22-10, including a 12-8 edge in shots on goal, only Katia scored for the CyberRays. Her header off a Sissi free kick in the 29th minute pulled the CyberRays into a 1-1 tie.

Five minutes later, after a Kelly Lindsey handball in the penalty box, goalkeeper LaKeysia Beene came up with a huge save on a Kylie Bivens penalty kick. But the CyberRays never took the advantage, as Atlanta keeper Briana Scurry came up with seven saves and her teammates stepped in to block four other shots.

``My team played really, really nicely today,'' Katia said in an English interview. "I'm so proud to play with my teammates. We played very, very well. It was a good job, a good game for the fans and for us. I think we're the best. We lost this game but we're learning a lot of things.''

Beene said the CyberRays' finishing problems take their toll at the end of games. ``I think it makes it harder to defend because we haven't taken advantage of our chances earlier. It is tough, but at the same time we played some awesome soccer.''

Cindy Parlow put Atlanta up 1-0 in the ninth minute when she headed in Homare Sawa's shot off the crossbar.  The CyberRays responded with a flurry of shots - four in the 11th minute alone - that either were blocked or saved. A Brandi Chastain header on a Michelle French corner kick went directly to Scurry in the 21st minute, and Katia slid a shot completely across the goal mouth in the 23rd.

Pretinha banged the crossbar in the 54th minute and a Kim Clark header in the 55th was blocked at the post by Lisa Krzykowski. In the 73rd minute Pretinha shot wide on a breakaway, and in the 77th Clark hit the left post and Tisha Venturini-Hoch's shot off the rebound was high.

Despite that, Sawyers said ``I thought this was one of our finest performances. I was very, very happy with the way we played. We out-thought them. We outplayed them. We feel confidently enough that if we play well, we'll dominate any team.''

Scoring Summary:

ATLANTA - Cindy Parlow (Homare Sawa, Nikki Serlenga), 9th.

CYBERRAYS - Katia (Sissi), 29th.

ATLANTA - Charmaine Hooper (Serlenga), 89th.

ATLANTA - Briana Scurry, Sharolta Nonen, Dayna Smith, Lisa Krzykowski (Augustyniak, J. 87), Nancy Augustyniak, Liping Wang (Wen 67), Kylie Bivens, Nikki Serlenga, Charmaine Hooper, Homare Sawa, Cindy Parlow.

TOTAL SHOTS: 10; SHOTS ON GOAL: 8; FOULS: 19; OFFSIDE: 1; CORNER KICKS: 6; SAVES: Scurry 7; CAUTIONS: Hooper, 70; Serlenga, 85; EJECTIONS: None.

CYBERRAYS - LaKeysia Beene, Thori Bryan, Kelly Lindsey, Diane Alagich, Michelle French, Brandi Chastain, Sissi, Tisha Venturini-Hoch, Pretinha, Katia, Kim Clark.

TOTAL SHOTS: 22 (Katia 6); SHOTS ON GOAL: 12; FOULS: 7; OFFSIDE: 2; CORNER KICKS: 8; SAVES: Beene 5; CAUTIONS: Lindsey, 35; EJECTIONS: None.

Referee: Faith Rossi; Referee's Assistants: Sarah Kraus, Robert Sabella, Yader Reyes
Attendance: 5,644; Weather: Sunny, Breezy - 71 degrees

[Source: Jody Meacham, Director of Public Relations, San Jose CyberRays, 408/ 261-7724 office, 
408 / 690-9362 cell, jmeacham@sjcyberrays.com]