EMAIL WOMENSOC@aol.com
W-LEAGUE
Maryland Pepsi Pride
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EMAIL WOMENSOC@aol.com |
USISL W-LEAGUE Maryland Pepsi Pride |
June 13, 1999 The Maryland Pepsi Pride used a balanced attack to overpower the Montreal Dynamite 7-0 on Saturday at Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville. Saturday's victory, following an identical 7-0 result on Friday, gave Maryland a three-game winning streak.
Colette Cunningham put the Pride on the board at the 10th minute, and five minutes later, Tammy Pearman made it 2-0. Maryland then clinched the win with a three-goal explosion that saw Denise Schilte hit the net at the 31st minute, followed by strikes from Pearman and Nancy Rohrman at the 32nd and 37th minutes.
After intermission, Pride coach Carolyn Rice went to her bench, but Maryland continued to control play. Jackie Mynarski increased Maryland's lead to 6-0 at the 48th minute and Diane Drake scored the final goal five minutes from time. Goalkeepers Kate Macfarlane and Peg Sullivan teamed up to earn their second shutout in a row. Rohrman, Schilte, Jamie Ricker, Peggy McCarthy Julie Nelson and Danielle Desfosses chalked up one assist each.
With her pair of goals on Saturday, Pearman scored five times over the weekend. With six goals on the season, Pearman now leads the Pride in scoring; Cunningham is second with five goals.
With the weekend victories, the Pride raised its 1999 W-League record to 6-1. Maryland returns to action next Friday against the Delaware Genies at Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville. The Maryland-Delaware match will kick off at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets to Maryland Pepsi Pride matches cost $7 for adults and $5 for boys and girls under 19 years at the gate; advanced-purchase tickets cost $5 for adults and $3 for boys and girls under 19 years. To reserve special discount tickets for Friday's match with Delaware, contact the Pride office at (410) 729-2754 or 1-888-947-KICK. Visit the web site at
Maryland Pepsi Pride Earns Second Convincing Victory In Two Days
By Rick Crow
1999 MARYLAND PEPSI PRIDE RESULTS
May 8, 1999
Maryland Pepsi Pride 4 Boston 1 in opening game of the season at RFK stadium
The Maryland Pepsi Pride avenged a last minute, sudden death overtime loss in Boston versus New Jersey last year with a solid performance and win with a 4-1 win at RFK stadium today. Before a crowd of over 500, Maryland welcomed in the new season with a goal early in the game by last years team scoring leader, Colette Cunningham. continued where she left off last year, as she struck in the fourth minute when she buried a long cross from Diane Drake with a solid header. Cunningham scored again at the 42nd minute off a feed from Mary Pitera, then set up Tania Shermeta for the Pride's fourth goal just before half time. Also hitting the net for Maryland was Vickie Brunt late in the first half.
New Jersey battled back in the second half with strong performances by it's defense and goalie, when Nicky Kelly put the Lady Stallions on the board with an unassisted goal at the 58th minute.
"New Jersey has a good team, they will be tough when they start putting everything together and clicking on all cylinders." Pride coach Carolyn Rice said. Maryland assistant Mike McMoil agreed, "They dominated the first fifteen minutes of the second half. Then when Nicky (Kelly) hit that upper ninety shot from thirty (yards) out, we had to take a second look at the shape of the defense in the back".
It took Maryland thirty to forty minutes to find its groove on the spacious MLS field, but when Tania Sheremeta and Peggy McCarthy started getting free on the flanks, the crosses became plentiful for the speedy Pride forwards.
Maryland finished the first half with 3 goals in 6 minutes to stun the New Jersey defense and take a 4-0 lead into the locker room at the half.
Said Pride G.M. Eric Payne "It's great to get the first one under our belts and let the season start to settle in. We looked a little slow to begin with, but that will come, as the season progresses. It is great to win the opening game, especially in this setting (First ever MLS/W-League doubleheader)but we have lots of work ahead of us. We need to improve our defensive shape and have to work more on possession of the ball in midfield where we are tremendously deep with talent."
The Maryland Pepsi Pride host Long Island on Friday May 21 for a repeat of last years division playoff won by the Pride.
Maryland Pepsi Pride Announces Season-opener At RFK Stadium On May 8
The Maryland Pride and D.C. United will team up to host a Super Saturday of Soccer on Saturday, May 8th at RFK Stadium. This men's-women's doubleheader will kick off at 12:30 p.m. when the Pride faces the New Jersey Lady Stallions, followed by the D.C. United-New York/New Jersey MetroStars clash at 4:00 p.m.
The May 8th date with New Jersey will be the season-opener for the Pride, one of the most successful teams in W-League history. Since taking the field in 1994, the Pride has advanced to four out of five national championships, a feat unmatched by any other W-League franchise. In 1996, Coach Carolyn Rice led the Pride to the W-League title and won the Coach of the Year honors; in 1997 the Pride finished third in the nation, followed by a fourth-place finish last year.
Pride players are looking forward to the rematch with New Jersey. Last year, New Jersey defeated the Pride 1-0 to capture third place at the 1998 W-League championship tournament.
"We are very excited to have the opportunity to showcase Maryland's elite women's soccer team," said Eric Payne, general manager of the Maryland Pepsi Pride. "Partnering up with D.C. United affords us the opportunity to expose fans to the W-League, the nation's most competitive women's soccer league and we hope to help D.C. United pack RFK Stadium on May 8th."
Discount tickets for the May 8th Pride-D.C. United doubleheader are now on sale for $10. These special seats are located in the end-line sections. Sideline seats are also available for $15, VIP seats for $20 and Mezzanine seats for $26.
For further information on the Maryland Pride, call the team's offices at (410) 729-1100 or visit the web site at www.mdpride.com.