(June 27, 2002)

WUSA's  New York Power Relieves Pat Farmer
Assistant Charlie Duccilli To Fill Role As Interim Head Coach

NEW YORK NY (June 27, 2002) New York Power general manager Susan Marenoff announced today that the team has relieved head coach Pat Farmer from his head coaching duties with the team and named assistant Charlie Duccilli as the interim head coach for the remainder of the 2002 season.

Farmer was named the team's first ever head coach in December of 2000, coming from Penn State University where he had a record of 233-57-28 (.777) and was the University's only head coach since the women's program's inception in 1994. Last season, Farmer led the Power to a 7-5-5 (.548) record for the 2001 Inaugural season. The team finished in third place in 2001, earning a playoff berth in the WUSA Playoffs.

The Power, who have struggled this year with injuries and personnel changes sit in last place in the WUSA standings at 2-9-1 with seven points in 12 games. "Despite the injuries we have had, we are still under-achieving our goals and showing what this team is truly capable of doing," said Susan Marenoff, general manager of the Power. "I respect Pat tremendously, however we feel the time is now to seek an alternate path to get this team back on track."

Duccilli, in his second season with the Power, served as the assistant under Farmer and was responsible for pre-scouting up-coming opponents and evaluating prospects in addition to his on the field assistance with the team during games and practices. Duccilli coached the Rutgers Scarlet Knights for 11 years, heading the program from its inception in 1984 and compiled a record of 167-114-26 while at Rutgers. Charlie is a graduate of Temple University where he earned All-America soccer honors. He went on the play professionally for 10 years in both the NASL and ASL.

Goalkeeper coach Zac Shaw has resigned his post effective immediately. Shaw, who joined the Power this season after spending the 2001 season with the Carolina Courage, had previously spent three years as goalkeeper coach at Penn State University under Pat Farmer.

[Source: Darren Hawks, (212) 372-0439; John Sciacca, (212) 372-0437; Dan Courtemanche; Vice President of Communications, WUSA Work: 404-269-8269]