Prediction
Here is Soccer America Associate Editor Dean Caparaz’s predictions for the June 21 game: Washington 2 San Diego 1
Preview
(all times ET) Thursday, June 21 – (7:00 pm) – San Diego (2-5-2, 7th place, 8 pts) at Washington (4-4-2, tied for 4th place, 14 pts) (Cox Ch. 4, WJAL). Season series: San Diego leads 1-0;
All-time regular-season series: San Diego leads 1-0 (San Diego leads 2-0 on aggregate goals).
Leading scorers: San Diego: F Shannon MacMillan (5 g, 3 a = 13 pts); Washington: F Pretinha (5 g, 1 a = 11 pts).
Did you know? MacMillan scored the Spirit’s first two goals with both strikes in a May 5 shut out of the Freedom in San Diego. The loss was Washington’s first of the season.
Key players out: San Diego: D Kristin Bengtsson (Sweden/Euro 2001), G Ulrika Karlsson (Sweden/Euro 2001); Washington: None.
Notes: Washington enters the match with a two-game losing streak and has a 1-1-1 home record. Meanwhile, San Diego enters RFK Stadium with an 0-2-2 road record and a split of its last two games overall. … San Diego coach Carlos Juarez shook up the Spirit by switching from a 4-4-2 formation to a 4-3-3 in last Sunday’s 3-2 loss in Atlanta. … In its last three losses, San Diego has allowed the game-winning goal in the last 10 minutes of each match. … MacMillan leads the league in shots (43) and shots on goal (23). … Washington M Mia Hamm is tied for the league lead in assists (4) with Atlanta F Cindy Parlow and Carolina M Hege Riise.
KEY MATCHUP: San Diego M Shannon Boxx vs. Washington M Anne Makinen: The Freedom’s Finn got her first start of the season in last Friday’s 1-0 loss at Boston. Her club needs Makinen to generate chances for the inconsistent frontline. If Boxx can keep her former Notre Dame teammate quiet, the Freedom will continue to sputter up top.
SCHEDULED REFEREES: Referee: Sandra Hunt; Assistant Referees: Bill Dittmar (SAR), Lorenzo Sanz (JAR), Fourth Official: Amy Bumgarner.
