Monday, September 29, 2003

 

Of the 42 current and former W-League players on Women's World Cup rosters, 35 saw action during group play over the past two weeks. Only three of the current 17 W-League players in the tournament have not yet seen action.

One of the key stories of the tournament has been the play of Ottawa Fury goalkeeper Taryn Swiatek for Canada. Replacing the injured Karina LeBlanc, the 22-year old stopper has led the Canucks to the team's first-ever Women's World Cup victories, downing Argentina and Japan to advance to the Quarterfinals for the first time. She has made six saves in the two wins and is tied for second in the tournament in goals-against average at 0.50 with China's Yan Zhao.

"Our goalkeeper produced some stunning saves when we needed it," Canada head coach Even Pellerud told FIFAWorldCup.com after the win over Japan. "We expected more pressure in the box than we had against Argentina, but not as much as against Germany. Taryn is very good on cross balls. She is powerful and has good hands. She is quick and reacts very fast, and is very aggressive in her behavior in the goal. I went with my gut feeling and that was a good gut feeling." 

Current and former W-League goalkeepers have done well in the tournament with former Delaware Genies netminder Briana Scurry (USA) leading the tournament with a 0.33 goals-against average. Former Hampton Roads Piranha Cassandra Kell (Australia) and New York Magic Abiba Sulemana (Ghana) have 1.50 and 1.67 goals-against averages, respectively. Combined, the four W-League goalkeepers who have played have a goals-against average of 1.00 through 900 minutes played and have and impressive record of 7-1-2 (W-D-L) in the tournament. Sulemana ranks seventh in the tournament in saves with 13, two more than Scurry, who ranks eighth.

Offensively, nine W-League alumni have tallied 14 of the tournament's 81 goals thus far and eight players have registered an assist. A total of 36 points have been tallied by W-League players in the tournament.

Former Denver Diamond Homare Sawa (Japan) is one of four tied for third in goals with three in the tournament. Christine Sinclair (Canada), Abby Wambach (USA) and Alberta Sackey (Ghana) round out the top ten in goals tied at two with 14 others. Sawa is tied for sixth in points at with six. Sackey's second goal in Ghana's surprising 2-1 win over Australia Sunday made history as the tournament's 400th goal all-time. Sackey and Sawa are tied for fourth in shots in the tournament with 12 - Sackey is tied for fourth for shots on goal with eight and Sawa is tied for seventh with seven.

In total, W-League players have registered 86 matches played, logging 6,647 minutes. Current W-Leaguers from the 2003 season have played 32 games for 2,515 minutes with a goal from Kara Lang and an assist from Brittany Timko of the Vancouver Whitecaps.

Four W-Leaguers were honored as Players of the Match during the course of the 24-game group stage. The Player of the Match honor is selected by the FIFA Technical Study Group.

Former Delaware Genie Kristine Lilly scored the first goal of the United States campaign and her 92nd overall internationally of her career in her 256th international appearance.

Northern Virginia Majestics player Elizabeth Baidu was honored for her outstanding defensive play in shutting down China, the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup runners-up. She was one of two players to be honored from a team that lost.

Former Memphis Mercury player Cheryl Salisbury was honored for her fantastic defensive play in Australia's 1-1 draw against China. She made a save in the 42nd minute, clearing the ball off the line to preserve a 1-0 lead heading to halftime.

Despite two goals by teammate Alberta Sackey, Northern Virginia Majestic Adjoa Bayor was honored for her remarkable play in midfield that created numerous scoring chances for Ghana in their surprising victory over Australia.