The San Jose CyberRays addressed its most pressing need Tuesday, trading their first-round selection in next year's WUSA draft to Philadelphia for forward Mandy Clemens.
Clemens, 25, a three-time All-American at Santa Clara University, returns to the Bay Area after scoring seven goals with five assists — numbers far below expectations — in two seasons with the Charge.
San Jose coach Ian Sawyers was looking for a forward who could take some of the scoring load off Brazilian striker Katia, who led the WUSA in scoring last season with 15 goals and 35 points. Kim Clark and Christina Bell, Katia's primary partners up front, combined for just one goal in 2002.
''It?s no secret we need more scoring to help Katia,'' Sawyers said. ''We?re hopeful we can put Mandy in that position. I think she will be big bonus for us, and she definitely fills big void we had from last year.''
To make room for Clemens on the 'Rays roster, Sawyers waived Bell, who was instrumental in San Jose's title run in the inaugural season. A change of alignments in Year 2, from three forwards to two, and poor form early in the season restricted the former Sonoma State and Fresno State attacker to just five starts.
Philadelphia has three selections among the first seven in the 2003 draft. The pool of players for the draft is considered far deeper than that available in last February's draft.
The deal was the second in the WUSA in as many days. San Diego and New York made a five-player trade on Monday, with the teams exchanging the first two selections in the draft.
San Jose gets:
F Mandy Clemens
Philadelphia gets:
San Jose first-round draft choice (fourth overall)
Current first-round picks in 2003 draft: 1. San Diego (from New York); 2. New York (from San Diego); 3. Boston; 4. Philadelphia (from San Jose); 5. Atlanta; 6. Philadelphia (from Washington); 7. Philadelphia; 8. Carolina.