Tammy Pearman’s 45th-minute goal was all the New York Power needed to shut out host San Diego, 1-0, in front of 5,529 spectators at Torero Stadium. Goalkeeper Gao Hong only had to make two saves for New York. San Diego had just two shots on goal, both courtesy of forward Shannon MacMillan. San Diego played without starting defender Fan Yunjie, who was a late scratch from the lineup with a groin injury. Karissa Hampton started in her place. Spirit midfielder Jen Mascaro could only play 26 minutes due to a muscle strain behind her knee and was replaced by Erin Montoya. Spirit Tara Koleski started in place of forward Traci Arkenberg (sore ankle), though the latter entered the match as a late substitute. The win moved the Power (2-0-3) into sole possession of first place with nine points. San Diego stays in sixth place with five points from a 1-2-2 record. Both of San Diego’s losses have come at home. May 20 in San Diego SAN DIEGO 0 NEW YORK 1 Scoring Summary: NY – Pearman (Fettig, Whalen) 45. San Diego —Jaime Pagliarulo, Rhiannon Tanaka, Kim Pickup, Karissa Hampton, Kristin Bengtsson (Traci Arkenberg, 72), Shannon Boxx, Julie Foudy, Jen Mascaro (Erin Montoya, 26), Sherrill Kester (Missy Wycinsky, 82), Shannon MacMillan, Tara Koleski. CAUTIONS: None; EJECTIONS: None. New York —Gao Hong, Christie Pearce, Gro Espeseth, Nel Fettig, Ronnie Fair, Kristy Whelchel, Jen Lalor (Katie Tracy, 31), Kerry Connors (Emily Janss, 84), Sara Whalen, Tiffeny Milbrett, Tammy Pearman (Jessica Reifer, 76). CAUTIONS: Milbrett 26, Espeseth 67; EJECTIONS: None. Referee: Arnold Baldeaux. Attendance: 5,529.

Carolina gets first point

The Carolina Courage earned its first point of the season, coming from two goals down to tie the Washington Freedom, 2-2. It was the two clubs’ second meeting at Carolina’s Fetzer Field in three weeks. Washington (8 points with a 2-1-2 record) moves into a first-place tie with Boston and Philadelphia. Carolina (1, 0-4-1) remains in last-place in the eight-team league. As in its last match, a 2-2 tie with Boston, Washington got out to a fast start, getting an eighth-minute goal from Pretinha after a nice sequence of passes from Bai Jie and Michelle French. In the 38th minute, a Washington corner kick found Washington defender Lindsay Stoecker, whose shot was blocked by Carolina defender Wen Lirong. But the ball was only cleared as far as Amanda Cromwell, who put the Freedom up 2-0 with a close-range blast. But just as in the Freedom’s tie with the Breakers, the Freedom squandered a 2-0 lead. Carolina’s defense tightened up in the second half, a change from the past three weeks when the Courage gave up late goals. Meanwhile, defensive mistakes by Washington set up Carolina’s goals. In the 50th minute, Carolina’s Staci Burt sent a cross into the Washington penalty area. Stoecker rose above the crowd to head the ball away, but flicked the ball right to an unmarked Mikka Hansen, who scored for the Courage. In the 62nd minute, a cross to Carolina star Hege Riise at the top of the Washington penalty area hit the arm of Washington defender Skylar Little, who was marking Riise. Referee Brenda Wright called for a penalty kick, which Riise converted. May 19 in Chapel Hill, N.C. CAROLINA 2 WASHINGTON 2 WAS – Pretinha (Bai, French) 8. WAS – Cromwell 38. CAR – Hansen (Burt) 50. CAR – Riise (pen.) 62. Carolina — Nordby, Burt, Overbeck, Wen, Yankowski, Roberts, Riise, Burtini (Sheppard, 25), Hansen, Fotopoulos (Stone, 71), Florance (Hendershot, 59). CAUTIONS: Stone 86; EJECTIONS: None. Washington — Mullinix, Little, Stoecker, Barr, Bai, Cromwell, Grubb, Hamm, French, Milburn (Gerardo, 71), Pretinha (Roseli, 80). CAUTIONS: Pretinha 78, French 89; EJECTIONS: None. Referee: Brenda Wright. Attendance: 5,864.