WUSA Predictions and Previews (June 16-17 games)

Predictions

Here are Soccer America Associate Editor Dean Caparaz’s predictions for the June 16-17 games: Boston 0 Washington 2 Atlanta 1 San Diego 1 Bay Area 3 Carolina 2 New York 2 Philadelphia 1

Previews

(all times ET) Saturday, June 16 – (7:30 pm) – Washington (4-3-2, 4th place, 14pts) at Boston (2-4-3, 5th place, 9 pts) (WJAL, AT&T3). Season series: Tied (2-2 in lone meeting May 12); All-time regular-season series: Tied (Tied 2-2 on aggregate goals). Leading scorers: Washington: F Pretinha (5 g, 1 a = 11 pts); Boston: F Maren Meinert (5 g, 1 a = 11 pts). Did you know? Boston D Kate Sobrero sat out the previous meeting with Washington with a “strained backside.” The Freedom bolted out to a 2-0 lead before a late Boston rally — capped by Keri Raygor’s 90th minute strike — earned the Breakers a 2-2 tie. … Washington M Mia Hamm has been involved in the Freedom’s last four goals. She scored the last one — a penalty in the 2-1 loss to Atlanta — and assisted on the previous three. Key players out: Washington: None; Boston: G Karina LeBlanc (Canada/friendlies), M Bettina Wiegmann (Germany/Euro 2001), F Maren Meinert (Germany/Euro 2001), F Dagny Mellgren (Norway/Euro 2001), F Robin Confer (strained back). Notes: Boston has been hurt the most by Euro 2001. The Breakers managed a 4-2 win at the Bay Area without Meinert and Wiegmann. But at least they had Mellgren to lean on. Now they face a better team without their European trio. The absence of the injured Confer further limits Coach Jay Hoffman’s options up front. Nigerian newcomer Florence Omagbemi is better on the outside but could help shore up the midfield in Wiegmann’s absence. Boston added her to its reserve squad this week and then activated her. … Washington choked away the last match with Boston. There are no indications that Boston will play a defensive-minded game while it’s starting lineup is depleted, so the Freedom needs to put the Breakers away. KEY MATCHUP: Washington M Bai Jie vs. Boston M Keri Raygor: This is one area of midfield the Breakers might be able to keep pace with Washington. The Breakers will likely lose the battle in central midfield without Wiegmann. Washington playmakers Mia Hamm and Anne Makinen will look for Bai, so Boston needs the speedy Raygor to clamp down on the Chinese international. SCHEDULED REFEREES: TBA. Sunday, June 17 – (4:00 pm) – San Diego (2-4-2, tied for 6th place, 8 pts) at Atlanta (4-1-4, tied for 2nd place, 16 pts) (Cox Ch. 4-tape delayed 7 p.m. PT, Fox Sports Net South). Season series: Tied (1-1 in lone meeting May 12); All-time regular-season series: Tied (Tied 1-1 on aggregate goals). Leading scorers: San Diego: F Shannon MacMillan (4 g, 2 a = 10 pts); Atlanta: F Charmaine Hooper (3 g, 2 a = 8 pts). Did you know? San Diego D Kim Pickup’s late flip throw the last time these two team’s played led to the equalizer — an own goal by Atlanta G Briana Scurry. Key players out: San Diego: G Ulrika Karlsson (Sweden/Euro 2001), D Gina Oceguera (Mexico/friendlies); Atlanta: B Sharolta Nonen (Canada/friendlies), M Amy Walsh (Canada/friendlies), F Charmaine Hooper (Canada/friendlies), M Charry Korgel (fibula fracture-L), M Sara Reading (torn MCL-R). Notes: This is San Diego D Kristin Bengtsson’s last game before joining Sweden for Euro 2001. … Cox operates both franchises. … A friendly wager between Spirit GM Kevin Crow and Beat GM Lynn Morgan, has the loser wearing the other teamÆs apparel for a day. Crow states, “She will look better in maroon and navy, instead of that funky baby blue.” … San Diego earned a 1.4 local rating with a 4 share on Cox Channel 4 for last week’s non-prime time game against Boston. The Spirit has averaged a 1.6 rating with a 4 share through six games on Cox. … Atlanta D Nancy Augustyniak will replace Nonen in the lineup. Atlanta M Marci Miller returns to the lineup in place of Walsh. Forwards Kerry Gragg, Kelly Cagle and Sun Wen are options to replace Hooper, though Sun (high left ankle sprain) is not expected to start. … Atlanta activated D Laurie Black and D Mary Pitera from its reserve squad. KEY MATCHUP: San Diego M Julie Foudy vs. Atlanta M Marci Miller: If Miller knocks the World Cup and Olympic veteran around for 90 minutes, it’ll be a long day for Coach Carlos Juarez and the Spirit. When Carolina and the Bay Area marked Foudy, San Diego lost. SCHEDULED REFEREES: TBA. Sunday, June 17 – (5:00 pm) – Carolina (2-6-1, 8th place, 7 pts) at Bay Area (2-4-2, tied for 7th place, 8 pts) (Fox Sports Net Bay Area). Season series: Bay Area leads 1-0; All-time regular-season series: Bay Area leads 1-0 (Bay Area leads 2-1 on aggregate goals). Leading scorers: Carolina: F Danielle Fotopoulos (5 g, 1a = 11 pts); Bay Area: M Sissi (1 g, 3 a = 5 pts). Did you know? Bay Area D/M Brandi Chastain started at defensive midfielder for the first time this season in a 2-1 CyberRays win over Carolina on May 13. Key players out: Carolina: G Bente Nordby (Norway/Euro 2001), M Hege Riise (Norway/Euro 2001), F Silvana Burtini (Canada/friendlies), D Nicole Roberts (tibia/fibula fracture-R), M Sarah Dacey (returned to reserve squad); Bay Area: D Lauren Molinaro (tibia fracture-R), G Jen Mead (knee surgery-L). Notes: Carolina G Kristin Luckenbill will start in place of Nordby. M Beth Sheppard, F Mikka Hansen, F Beth Keller, M/D Tiffany Roberts, D Wen Lirong and D Staci Wilson are possible replacements for Riise in the middle. … Carolina returned M Sarah Dacey to the reserve squad. … Bay Area M Brandi Chastain returns after sitting out the New York tie with a one-game yellow card suspension. … CyberRays coach Ian Sawyers does not expect to start Australian newcomer Dianne Alagich. Look for her as a second-half substitute either in central defense or at left back. … The Bay Area, which has mostly played with a 3-5-2 formation, will probably play with four in the back against Carolina as it did in last week’s 0-0 tie with New York. KEY MATCHUP: Carolina M/D Tiffany Roberts vs. Bay Area M Sissi: In the previous matchup, Roberts shut down the Brazilian playmaker for most of the match. The lone time Sissi broke away, she set up teammate Tisha Venturini’s winning goal. This matchup won’t be the same if Carolina coach Marcia McDermott asks Roberts to take on more of the playmaking role of the absent Hege Riise. SCHEDULED REFEREES: Referee: Terry W. Vaughn; Assistant Referees: Stephen Davidson (SAR), Dinesh Singh (JAR); Fourth Official: Alex Del Angel, Jr. Sunday, June 17 – (6:00 pm) – Philadelphia (5-2-2, 1st place, 17 pts) at New York (4-1-4, tied for 2nd place, 16 pts) (CNN/SI national). Season series: Tied (2-2 in lone meeting May 13); All-time regular-season series: Tied (Tied 2-2 on aggregate goals). Leading scorers: Philadelphia: M Liu Ailing (4 g, 1 a = 9 pts); New York: F Tiffeny Milbrett (5 g, 2 a = 12 pts). Did you know? The last time these teams met, New York built a 2-0 lead on goals from Milbrett and F Kerry Connors. But Philadelphia M Rebekah McDowell and M Rakel Karvelsson scored in the 62nd and 80th minutes, respectively, to earn the Charge a 2-2 tie. Key players out: Philadelphia: Erica Iverson (stress fracture foot-R), M Rebekah McDowell (knee), G Melissa Moore (hand/reserve squad), F Kelly Smith (England/Euro 2001), D Doris Fitschen (Germany/Euro 2001); New York: None. Notes: New York D Gro Espeseth has three yellow cards and would be suspended for one match if she picks up her fourth in this or the next match. If the Norwegian does not pick up a card over the next two games, her slate will be wiped clean. … New York has a 1-1-3 home record, while Philly has a 3-0-2 road record. … Milbrett leads the league in scoring with 12 points. Power G Gao Hong leads the league with 62 catches/punches. … Philadelphia defender/midfielder Kalli Kamholz (back/leg injuries) will replace Doris Fitschen as a central defender if Kamholz is healthy. With Smith out, Philly M Margret Olafsdottir, F Deidre Enos and Karvelsson are possibilities to join F Mandy Clemens up front, unless Coach Mark Krikorian sticks with a 4-5-1 formation. F Erin Martin (hip pointer) is another option. … Philly deactivated G Melissa Moore and activated G Laurie Pells from the reserve squad. KEY MATCHUP: Philadelphia D Heather Mitts vs. New York F Tiffeny Milbrett: Mitts, the former Florida Gator, has impressed as a member of the underrated Philly defense. She has the best chance of staying with the league’s leading scorer. Milbrett will be smelling blood with the absence of veteran Charge defender Fitschen. SCHEDULED REFEREES: TBA.