(August 19, 2002)                                                                                             Hot News Main Page

Founders Cup Ii To Feature Carolina Versus Washington
Courage and Freedom will Battle for the WUSA Founders Cup on August 24 in Atlanta

ATLANTA GA (August 19, 2002) The match-up for Founders Cup II is set with the Carolina Courage facing the Washington Freedom on Saturday, August 24 at 4:00 p.m. ET (PAX TV) at Herndon Stadium in Atlanta. Beth Mowins will handle the play-by-play on PAX and Anson Dorrance will serve as the color analyst.

Carolina, the 2002 WUSA regular season champions, is coming off a dramatic 2-1 victory in overtime versus the Atlanta Beat on Saturday, August 17 at SAS Stadium. Carla Overbeck scored the game-winning "golden goal" in the 92nd minute to propel the Courage into the league's championship game.

Washington's path to the Founders Cup traveled through Villanova, Pa. The Freedom defeated the Philadelphia Charge 1-0 on Saturday, August 17 at Villanova Stadium. An 80th-minute goal by forward Monica Gerardo gave Washington a berth in the August 24 match at Herndon Stadium.

The Teams

The Carolina Courage - It has been a storybook season for the Courage. After finishing in last place with a 6-12-3 (21 pts.) record in 2001. Carolina did a complete 180-degree turn and captured the WUSA regular season championship in 2002.

Carolina features a trio of attacking players who have wreaked havoc on opposing defenses all season long. Birgit Prinz led the team in goals scored (12) during the regular season and was tied for the lead in total points with Danielle Fotopoulos. Fotopoulos recorded 11 goals and 10 assists - the only WUSA player to register double digits in goals and assists in league history - while leading the team in shots (90) and shots on goal (47). "Fotop" registered the game-tying penalty kick goal in the 89th minute versus Atlanta during last Saturday's semifinal match at SAS Stadium. Hege Riise, who drew the game-tying PK versus Atlanta on Saturday, has been Carolina's playmaker this season. Tied for second in the league with 13 assists in 2002, Riise also was able to find the back of the net six times during the regular season. Defensively, the Courage allowed 1.43 goals per game in 2002. The Courage defense, which held Atlanta to just six shots in last week's semifinal, is led by WUSA Goalkeeper of the Year finalist Kristin Luckenbill, who led the league with 114 saves during the regular season. Longtime U.S. national team captain Overbeck, who was hampered by a knee injury, limiting her action to just nine games this season, came off the bench in the 74th minute to score the game-winning goal in overtime.

The Washington Freedom - Coming off a 2001 campaign where the club finished tied for last place in the WUSA and went 2-10-1 in its final 13 games, Washington has become one of the WUSA elite in 2002. The Freedom entered the postseason riding a nine game unbeaten streak (7-0-2) and defeated Philadelphia last Saturday 1-0 to earn a berth in Founders Cup II.

Prior to U.S. national team star Mia Hamm's return to the Freedom lineup on June 12, Washington was mired in sixth place with a 2-4-3 (9 pts.) record. Once Hamm returned, the Freedom went 9-1-2 to finish third in the WUSA standings and earned its first playoff berth. Hamm finished 12th in the WUSA in scoring (8g, 6a, 22 pts.), despite playing just 506 minutes during the regular season. Abby Wambach, the WUSA leading rookie scorer during the regular season (29 pts.), powers through opposing defenses. A finalist for the league's Rookie of the Year, Wambach led the Freedom in scoring in 2002 with 10 goals and nine assists. Forward Gerardo, a standout for Mexico's national team, recorded the game-winning goal versus Philadelphia on Saturday and has been a solid player for Washington all season long. On the defensive side of the ball Washington is led by Jennifer Grubb, who has played in every minute of every match for the Freedom in club history. The defense received a pleasant addition with Steffi Jones' arrival on June 8. Prior to her debut, Washington allowed 1.44 goals per game, ranking fifth in the WUSA. The Freedom ended the 2002 season ranked second in team defense, allowing 1.38 goals per game. Another reason for the team's success defensively has been the play of goalkeeper Siri Mullinix. The Washington 'keeper recorded five saves in her first career postseason shutout last Saturday. In 2002 Mullinix registered a 1.19 goals against average, second best in the WUSA. In addition, the starting 'keeper on the 2000 U.S. Olympic team set a WUSA record with 13 saves against Boston on June 1.

The Matchup

Washington leads the all-time series versus Carolina 3-1-2 after the 2002 series finished 1-1-1. The Freedom outscored the Courage 7-6 this season, including a 5-2 thrashing of Carolina at SAS Stadium on Wednesday, July 31 in the last meeting between the two clubs. The five goals scored by the Freedom were the most in the club's history. Hamm (2g, 1a) and Wambach (1g, 3a) each had spectacular matches in the victory, recording multiple points versus the 2002 regular season champions. Wambach leads all Freedom players in scoring versus Carolina this season (2g, 3a, 7 pts.). Carolina is led by Prinz (2g, 1a, 5 pts.) and Venus James (2g, 1a, 5 pts.) in scoring versus the Freedom this season. James actually earned WUSA Player of the Week honors with her two-goal performance versus Washington on June 22. Neither team was able to claim victory on its home soil in 2002. The Freedom's only loss since Hamm's return has come at the hands of Carolina (June 22). Both teams finished last in the WUSA standings in 2002 and are now the final two teams in the league, battling to hoist the Founders Cup in Atlanta.

The Referees

The Referees for the WUSA's Founders Cup II on August 24 in Atlanta, Ga. will be:
Referee - Ricardo Salazar (one of three finalists for the WUSA Referee of the Year award) Assistant Referees - Chris Strickland; Brenda Wright Reserve Referee - Rachel Woo

Key Matchup

(Washington defenders Carrie Moore and Jennifer Grubb versus Carolina forwards Danielle Fotopoulos and Birgit Prinz) - Moore and Grubb will have the task of marking one of the WUSA's most dangerous scoring duos. Fotopoulos and Prinz have combined for 23 goals during the 2002 regular season. Carolina's dynamic duo has continued to produce for the Courage during the playoffs, registering a goal and two assists in last Saturday's semifinal match. In the three meetings this season between Carolina and Washington, the Courage strikers have totaled three goals and three assists. Lead by Moore and Grubb, Washington's defense finished tied for second in goals per game allowed (1.38). The Freedom defenders will have their hands full, trying to keep Fotopoulos and Prinz from finding the back of the net. In order to keep the forwards in check, Grubb (Washington's iron woman) and Moore will have to keep the number of touches by Carolina's "twin towers" to a minimum.

They Said It...

"We just came through a terrific game with Atlanta. We have so much respect for them and to come out on top is great. Now, we need to focus our attention on Washington. They are the hottest team in the league. They are playing great soccer and are completely confident. This is going to be a great game between two teams that know how to score goals." - Carolina Courage Head Coach Marcia McDermott on the semifinal win and upcoming match versus Washington.

"For these two teams (Carolina and Washington) to go to the Founders Cup after a not-so-good year last year is just a credit to the whole organization. It was definitely special. We've been working hard all year. Marcia (McDermott) and the staff have done a great job. I'm glad we're going to the Founders Cup championship." - Carolina's Carla Overbeck on this weekend's Founders Cup match.

"When the team wins, the team wins and it's not just the 11 starters that win. Everyone feels that way, whether it's the coaches or the staff or the players. With Mia coming off the bench and providing a huge spark for us since she came back from her injury, it makes her feel a part of the team and whomever she comes in for, they don't feel like they didn't do anything." - Washington's Jacqui Little on the team effort made by the Freedom this season.

The Inside Scoop
* The five goals Washington scored against Carolina on July 31 were the most goals produced by the Freedom in a single match. It also tied the Courage record for most goals allowed (5 - Philadelphia August 6, 2001).

* Carolina and Washington were the top two road teams in the WUSA in 2002. The Courage ranked first (6-2-3, .682) and the Freedom was ranked second (5-3-2, .600). Last season both were the worst road teams in the WUSA as Washington ranked seventh and Carolina ranked eighth.

* Washington and Carolina were the two highest draws on the road, finishing first and second respectively in road attendance in 2002.

* Both teams visited Herndon Stadium a total of three times this season with a combined record of 1-2-0. The lone victory was a 3-1 win for Carolina on June 15.

* The Founders Cup will feature the number one (Danielle Slaton of Carolina) and number two (Abby Wambach of Washington) overall picks in the 2002 WUSA Draft.

* Carolina's Birgit Prinz and Washington's Steffi Jones were teammates on German club FFC Frankfurt prior to coming to the WUSA. By the way, Prinz and Jones led FFC Frankfurt to the celebrated "treble" - a German league title, German cup title, and European club championship.

* Carolina's Birgit Prinz and Washington's Steffi Jones finished one and two respectively in the German Soccer Player of the Year voting. German sports journalists selected Prinz as the best soccer player in Germany this season.

Prinz received 455 of 634 Votes. Jones, who finished second, received 70 votes.

"Birgit is momentarily simply the best player in the world", praises Siegfried Dietrich, Manager of FFC Frankfurt.

* Washington's Jacqui Little and Ann Cook are making their second straight appearance in the Founders Cup. Both were members of the 2001 WUSA Champion Bay Area (now San Jose) CyberRays. Both players came on as late substitutes in the CyberRays' win over Atlanta at Founders Cup I.

* The University of North Carolina is the most represented school in this year's Founders Cup. Eight total players - four from each team -- on the two rosters graduated from UNC. Including reserve players, UCLA has four athletes (3 Washington, 1 Carolina) while the University of Florida and Notre Dame each have three players represented in the Founders Cup.

The Weather Forecast

Here is the weather forecast for Founders Cup II on Saturday, August 24:

High 91 degrees F/Low 69 degrees F
Isolated Thunderstorms
62 percent humidity
Winds from the west at seven miles per hour

Additional Info

The Carolina Courage (2002 WUSA regular season champions) will be the home team for Founders Cup II and will be wearing its traditional home uniform (blue jersey, blue shorts and blue socks). The Washington Freedom will be fitted in its all-white road uniform (white jersey, white shorts and white socks.

Training on Thursday, August 22 will take place at the Pace Academy
(966 West Paces Ferry Rd NW).
The Courage will practice from 9:30 - 11 a.m. ET
The Freedom will practice from 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. ET

Training on Friday, August 23 will take place at Herndon Stadium (weather permitting)
Carolina will train from 1 - 2 p.m. ET
Washington will train from 2:30 - 3:30 p.m. ET

FOUNDERS CUP II NEWS AND NOTES

HYUNDAI MILLION DOLLAR KICK: > On Saturday August 24, 2002 during the Healthsouth FanFest, Hyundai will select one lucky > fan in attendance at Founders Cup II to participate in the "Hyundai Million > Dollar Kick". Hyundai will place a banner covering the entire goal with one opening in it four inches off the ground that is slightly off center. > > The participant will get one chance to kick the ball through this hole from > the penalty kick area to win one million dollars. The kick will take place > during halftime of Founders Cup II.

1996 WOMEN'S OLYMPIC TEAM TO BE HONORED: The gold-medal winning 1996 Women's Olympic Team will be honored at halftime of the WUSA Founders Cup II on Saturday, August 24. The entire squad, including many current WUSA players such as Julie Foudy, Kristine Lilly and Cindy Parlow will be on hand as well as WUSA Commissioner Tony DiCicco, who coached the 1996 team to the first-ever gold medal in women's soccer. The U.S. defeated China 2-1 on August 1, 1996 to win the gold medal during the Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta.

"It's great that the WUSA is recognizing the '96 team in the place where it all happened," said DiCicco. "If it wasn't for these players, there would not be a WUSA today. The success this team had, was vital to the development of our league."

SIRI MULLINIX TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS WEEK'S WUSA.COM CHAT: Washington Freedom goalkeeper Siri Mullinix will be the featured guest on this week's WUSA.com live web chat on Tuesday, August 20. The chat will begin at 8:00 p.m. (ET) and will last approximately 40 minutes. Mullinix will be on hand to discuss this week's upcoming championship match and will answer fan questions. Fans can submit questions before and during the chat. For more information, log on to www.WUSA.com.

[Source: Dan Courtemanche - (678) 645-0757, www.WUSA.com, Paul Dodson - (678) 645-0764, WUSA Communications]