WSW USISL W-LEAGUE

In addition to his role as head coach, Leung will also oversee development of the top youth players by serving as head coach of the new Northern Virginia Majestics U18 girls Super Y-League team. Leung was honored as the 2000 United Soccer Leagues W2 Coach of the Year for engineering the complete turn around of a winless Northern Virginia franchise. Coach Leung led the Majestics to a .500 season and a third place finish in the Atlantic Conference. Following the franchise's inaugural season in which it came up empty in 11 games, Leung led the team to a four-game unbeaten streak to open the 2000 season. The Majestics allowed only 18 goals during the 12 game season, which tied for best in the W-League.

Marcie Laumann, owner and general manager of the W-League's Hampton Roads Piranhas honored with inaugaral Archie Moylan Award

Marcie Laumann, owner and general manager of the W-League's Hampton Roads Piranhas, was named the inaugural recipient of the award named in honor of the man who founded the Reading Rage and his passion and dedication to the sport. It recognizes individuals who exemplify courage, humanitarianism, passion and dedication to the sport each year at the AOM Opening General Session.

Diagnosed with Juvenile Onset Diabetes at the age of 12, Laumann has fought the disease for most of her life. Recent complications, particularly with her eyesight, have made operating the club increasingly difficult over the past few years. She has undergone numerous laser surgeries in both eyes, including a Vitrectomy, one of the most dramatic developments in eye surgery over the last few years.

She experienced a complete loss of her eyesight and it was unknown at the time if it would return. The Vitrectomy calls for the retina to be detached with several other invasive procedures undertaken, all while she hung upside down. Her disease has kept her from seeing some of the club's greatest moments, listening to her husband Doc's play-by-play over the phone. Despite all of the complications over the years, she continues to fight for the advancement of the game for women.

USL also announced the Organizational, Executive and Marketing awards at the General Session. Among the 2000 Organizations of the Year were Long Island Lady Riders (W-1), and Charlotte Lady Eagles (W-2)Whitecaps)

Tom Engstrom (Charlotte Eagles), Kim Gamble (W-1, Ottawa Fury) and Tim and Marie Schweitzer (W-2, Northern Virginia Majestics) were honored among the 2000 Executives of the Year.

Boston Renegades (W-1) and Oklahoma Outrage (W-2) picked up two of the inaugural Marketing Excellence Awards.

USL's Key Grip Award was presented to Charlotte Eagles Game Day Operations Manager Robin Burgess.

USL adds an Under-18 Girls pilot program in their Super Y-League for the 2001 season at select regions of the United States and Canada

The inaugural season for the girls' program will contain a U-18 age group in select regions of the United States and Canada. The Super Y-League girls program will feature some of the top U.S. and Canadian based youth clubs, as well as youth development teams of W-League organizations. To receive an application for the 2001 Super Y-League season in the girls' U18 age group contact Matt Weibe, Director Super Y-League Operations & Development, at (813) 963-3909

Raleigh Wings step aside for WUSA Carolina
General Manager of the Raleigh Wings Dr. Hugo Uyttenhove announced today the termination of its franchise agreement with the United Soccer Leagues W-League. "We have to make room for the professional WUSA Carolina franchise, and in our market we should not compete," he said.

The Wings were the most successful W-League franchise with three divisional titles and two national championship titles. The rosters featured national team players and outstanding local players who are positioned well to make it in the new WUSA league.

The Raleigh Wings office will remain open until the end of the month.

W-League to undergo structural changes

The addition of the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) next April will mean major changes in the W-League during the coming months as the new Division I professional league lays its foundation and begins to sign administrators, coaches and players. USL is currently engaged in a discussion for a formal relationship between WUSA and the W-League that is similar to the agreement with MLS. No agreement has been reached at this time.

As for the W-League itself, expansion to the Pacific Coast is likely for 2001 as at least three of the four provisional Pacific Northwest teams (Portland, Seattle and Vancouver) from last season are set to return as members of W-1 with several California and Arizona teams also in the works. With the entrance of the Pacific Northwest teams, W-1 may expand beyond the previously imposed limit of 16 teams in an effort to provide a more suitable affiliate scenario geographically with WUSA.

Also joining the W-League in 2001 are clubs in Kansas City, Minnesota and Phoenix. Not returning for 2001 are the Delaware Genies, Atlanta Classics and New Brunswick Power. The Denver Diamonds are also among those leaving, but a new team has been established in Denver to replace them. In Dallas, the North Texas Heat have also departed, but a new franchise is expected to arise there.

Both defending W-League champions, Chicago Cobras (formerly W-1) and Springfield Sirens (formerly W-2), will be changing leagues for 2001.

Raleigh Wings return to W-1 Final with 3-0 win over the Boston Renegades to set up rematch with Chicago Cobras who defeated Toronto Inferno 3-1 in the other semi-final game on Friday, August 11, 2000

The Wings had few problems on their way to a 3-0 victory over the Boston Renegades in Friday's W-1 National Championship semi-final match in front of 1,360 fans at Championship Field at WRAL Soccer Park.

Goalkeeper Dion saved three of four Toronto shots as the Chicago Cobras advanced to their third W-League final in their five-year history with a 3 1 victory over the Inferno in Friday's first semi-final.

Chicago Cobras win W-1 Championship at third try

The Chicago Cobras defeated the Raleigh Wings, 4-2, in penalty kicks after 90 minutes of regulation time and two 15-minute sudden-death overtime periods ended with the score tied 1-1 in front of 1,528 fans at Championship Field at the WRAL Soccer Park.

The victory gave Chicago its first championship in their five-year history. Ironically it was against the Wings who had defeated them here in a shootout last season after coming back from a two-goal deficit. The loss for the Wings was their first-ever in the postseason and also the first they have suffered against a W-1 opponent in their history.

The Cobras can consider themselves fortunate that the game did come down to the tiebreaker, as they were outshot, 10-4, and faced 14 Raleigh corner kicks in 120 minutes. Dion had three saves and watched several Wings attempts sail either high or wide of the net, including Bryan's header that skimmed just over the crossbar late in regulation.

Chicago also found itself in need of an equalizer after Yankowski scored after just eight minutes. Last season, the Cobras went ahead by a pair of goals in the first half only to see their lead evaporate. This time they faced a deficit when the three-time assist leader took things into her own hands and launched a 25-yard shot from the right side that dipped under the crossbar and just above the outstretched hands above Dion.

Eight minutes into the second half Hooper drew the Raleigh defense to her on the right side, then sent a long ball into the path of streaking forward Myers. As the Wings defenders tried to recover, Myers sent a right-footed shot past Clewley into the right-side netting to tie the game.

The game went to penalty kicks after two scoreless overtimes. After Gebauer and Jeidy were successful on Raleigh's first two attempts and Cook and Hooper also scored, Chicago's Dion saved successive attempts by Yankowski and Cagle, while Davey and Myers scored from the spot to finish off the Wings.

Post game quotes

Chicago Coach Mike Nesci
"We bent again this game, like we did last year, but this time we didn't break. Heart and desire was the difference. Their goal from day one was to get back into this situation and win it this time. This was the best year from them to win, considering this is the last time the Cobras will be the same core group of players. We were definitely the underdog, but we expected to win. This is a team that has tradition on its side and a ton of things in their favor, but we battled real well against that."

Dion
"I don't really feel like a hero, it took every single person on this team to get to that point. When it comes down to penalties, you just don't know, either team can win."

Boston Renegades take third place with 6-1 win over the Toronto Inferno
Fair and Miettinen each scored a pair of goals, and Geeris and Connors each added a goal.

"Once we scored, you saw a little bit of how we can play," said Boston Coach Peter Bradley. "It's a little disappointing to stand here and watch this performance and think of what could have been."

Other

2000 W-1 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

Pos.
Player
Team

G
Danielle Dion
Chicago Cobras

D
Staci Wilson
Raleigh Wings

D
Nel Fettig
Raleigh Wings

D
Thori Bryan
Raleigh Wings

D
Fanta Cooper
Chicago Cobras

M
Ronnie Fair
Boston Renegades

M
Nathalie Geeris
Boston Renegades

M
Ann Cook
Chicago Cobras

M
Kim Yankowski
Raleigh Wings

F
Becky Myers
Chicago Cobras

F
Tina Blaskovic
Toronto Inferno

2000 W-1 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
Ann Cook Chicago Cobras

Winners of 2000 W-2 League Awards

Norlle Meeke wins 2000 W-2 League Most Valuable Player Award
Noelle Meeke scored more than half of her team's goals in leading the New York Magic to a 6-5-1 record and W-2 in scoring with 30 points on 14 goals and two assists. She helped New York recover from a 1-3-1 start to string together five straight victories and make a run for the Northern Conference championship. It is the second straight season Meeke has taken home an award after being the league's assist leader in 1999.

Meeke tied as top goal scorer in the league with Springfield Sirens forward Rachel LeDuc who scored four times in the Sirens final regular season game to pull even with Meeke at 14.

Hank Leung named as 2000 W-2 Coach of the Year
The Northern Virginia Majestics coach led the team to a .500 season and a third-place finish in the Atlantic Conference. Following the franchise's inaugural season in which it went winless in 11 games, Leung led the team to a four-game unbeaten streak to open the season. They finished 5-5-2 and 10 points behind first-place Charlotte. The Majestics allowed only 18 goals during the 12-game season, which tied for the league-best.

2000 W-2 Goalkeeper of the Year is Springfield's Kim Bridge.
The 23-year-old native of Enfield, Conn. had a perfect record of 8-0-0 and a 1.17 goals-against average in 10 appearances for the Sirens during the regular season.

2000 W-2 Rookie of the Year is Charlotte midfielder Nkiru Okosieme.
The Nigerian Women's National Team member, who was played in three Women's World Cups, was the team's leading scorer with 15 points on six goals and three assists.

W-2 League Defender of the Year is Sue Woodson of the Springfields Sirens
Sue Woodson led a Sirens defense who allowed just 19 goals in the season. Though the team's offense was tied as the most potent in the league with 35 goals scored, the Sirens had the best goal-differential at +16. Heather Boisvere won the award last year when the team allowed just 10 goals over the 12-game season.

Emma Mead of the New Hampshire Lady Phantoms and Kara Bryan of the Indiana Blaze tie as 2000 W-2 League Assist Leaders

The two players led the field with five assistss apiece.

2000 W-2 All League Team

Goalkeeper
Kim Bridge __Springfield Siren

Defense
Deanna Kreidel - Charlotte Lady Eagles
Sue Woodson - Springfield Sirens
Penny Stansfield - New York Magic
Mercy Morrial Oklahoma Outrage

Midfield
Lori Lindsey - Indiana Blaze
Emma Mead - New Hampshire Lady Phantoms
Nkiru Okosieme - Charlotte Lady Eagles
Noelle Meeke - New York Magic

Forward
Rachel LeDuc - Springfield Sirens
Mary Beth Lengefeld - Cincinnati Ladyhawks

Springfield to face expansion Charlotte in Sunday's W-2 League Final

The Springfield Sirens defeated the Oklahoma Outrage by 5-1 on Friday to return to the W-2 National Championship game.

Rachel LeDuc, who tied for the league lead in goal scoring with 14, connected twice Friday to lead the Sirens in front of 2,122 home fans at Fred Berte Stadium in Springfield and Amanda Matthews, who set up both LeDuc goals, scored the first goal of the night. After 30 minutes the Sirens scored twice within three minutes to take a quick two-goal lead. Matthews took a feed from Tara Foley and put her shot inside the near post from eight yards in the 33rd. minute. Three minutes later she crossed to LeDuc who headed it past Smith. LeDuc's second goal came when she chipped the ball high into the net past a charging Smith to increase the lead to 3-0.

The Outrage, who played the entire game with no substitutions on the bench, did provide some excitement offensively and were rewarded in the game's final moments when 18-year-old Adrienne Davis scored from the penalty spot to deny a shutout. By then Springfield had added two more goals through substitutes Marie Spinelli and Sonya Maher.

The Sirens are through to Sunday's Championship game, where they will face the Charlotte Lady Eagles.

Quotes

"We knew we had to come out from the start," LeDuc said. "In the past, we've been coming out slowly and letting teams score first. We knew that in this case if the opposition scored first, we'd be in trouble. The whole team is playing well. Everybody is getting back and getting forward and Amanda (Matthews) just plays beautiful balls into me and I finish."

"We were looking to do everything quick, restarts, throw-ins," Springfield Coach Derek Shea said. "We were looking to exploit the fact that they had a depleted squad and make them get tired. In the second half, we came out and endured some pressure and weathered the storm a little, then scored a goal against the run of play and I think that was the end of it."

The Toronto Inferno and Boston Renegades join the Wings and Chicago in Finals of the W-1 regular season at Raleigh, North Carolina

Boston scored two second-half goals to defeat the Hampton Roads Piranhas, 2-0, Friday night and waited for the result of Saturday's game between Long Island and Maryland. The waiting lasted 103 minutes until Italian Women's National Team star Rita Guarino silenced the 1,842 Long Island fans Saturday with a 40-yard shot over the head of Long Island goalkeeper Kim Wyant, giving the Pride a 3-2 overtime win and eliminating the Lady Riders from a shot at the National Championship.

Toronto Inferno coach Tony Marmo can now forget about the 3-11 season the expansion team endured in 1999. With a 4-0 rout of the Rochester Ravens Saturday night, the Inferno finished the 2000 season 8-5-1 and clinched the W-1 Northern Conference title.

They finished tied with the Laval Dynamites (7-6-1) with 35 points, but Toronto wins the first tiebreaker, which is regular season victories.

"It feels great to be in the playoffs, in the same company as Raleigh and Chicago," Canada Women's National Team member and Inferno forward Tanya Franck said.

W-1 and W-2 latest roundup

W-1 League

Chicago Cobras (14-0) finished their perfect 2000 season with a 2-0 win over the Fort Collins Force.
Tampa Bay Extreme won the home-and-home series battle of the Sunshine State by defeating the Jacksonville Jade, 5-0, Friday and, 1-0, Saturday. Two second-half goals gave the Rhode Island Rays a 3-1 win over the New Hampshire Lady Phantoms Saturday night, but the Rays fell, 6-3, to the Springfield Sirens Sunday.
Saturday's game featuring the Boston Renegades at the Raleigh Wings was postponed due to inclement weather.

W-1 Player of the week Chrissy McCann
Boston Renegades defender McCann helped shut down the Hampton Roads attack and spurred on the offense by assisting on the game and conference-winning goal to earn W-1 Player of the Week honors.

W-2 League

W-2 Player of the week: Camie Bybee
Oklahoma Outrage midfielder Bybee scored the game-winning goal in the 49th minute over the W-1 North Texas Heat to give the Outrage a 2-1 win and the W-2 Western Conference championship. Bybee's performance and clutch goal earned her W-2 Player of the Week honors.

Other
-The Seattle Sounders Select women's team continued its unbeaten streak as forward Tami Bennett scored three goals to lead Seattle to a 4-0 win over the Vancouver Lady 86ers in front of 2,122 fans. The Sounders Select, playing its first home game of the provisional W-League Northwest Conference, now sport a 5-0-2 record.

Oklahoma Outrage complete W-2 Final Four with win over North Texas Heat

Oklahoma Outrage became the fourth and final team to qualify for this weekend's W-2 National Championship in Springfield. They O defeated the 1999 W-2 Champion and current W-1 club North Texas Heat, 2-1, to clinch the Western Conference over the Colorado Gold. The Gold swept two games in Texas, defeating the Houston Tornados, 4-1, and the Austin Lady Lone Stars, 8-1, but finished one point behind the Outrage.

Remaining two W-1 conference winners to be decided this weekend ...the last three days of the season

The Raleigh Wings (Southern) and Chicago Cobras (Western) have both won their respective conferences, but with only three points separating the top three teams in 1999 the W-1 Northeast Conference winner won't be known until the final day of the season. The Northern Conference was nearly a lock for the Laval Dynamites - until last weekend. Laval was in the driver's seat, but consecutive home losses to Toronto and Ottawa have left the Dynamites needing a little help from the Rochester Ravens (2-10) who play both Toronto and Laval this weekend. The Fury need Rochester to upset both Laval and Toronto, and a win over the New Jersey Lady Stallions (4-9). Toronto would win the tiebreaker should they finish tied with Laval.

"We had the steering wheel well in hand to drive the car where we wanted to go," Laval coach Gaspard D'Alexis said. "But we decided to give the keys to Toronto." Two points separate the top three teams in the W-1 Northern Conference. The Toronto Inferno (7-6-1) are tied with Laval at 30 to lead the conference, followed by the Ottawa Fury (6-5-2, 28 points).

The Long Island Lady Riders only needed to defeat the Boston Renegades last Saturday to win the Northeast Conference and return to the W-1 National Championships for the first time in three years, but the Renegades refused to hand over the conference crown without a fight. Boston midfielder Nathalie Geeris scored three goals to lead the Renegades over the Lady Riders 5-2 to force a first place tie in the conference standings. With the Northeast Conference title on the line, the Renegades (10-2-1, 28 points) travel to Hampton Roads (7-5-1) for their season finale, while the Lady Riders (10-2-1, 28 points) play host to the Maryland Pride. The Pride (8-4-1) defeated the Lady Riders 1-0 earlier this season. Long Island which own a 2-1-1 edge in the season series, would win a tiebreaker.

In W-2, the last remaining spot in the W-2 National Championship is up for grabs, between the Colorado Gold and Oklahoma Outrage, while the rest of W-2 get a weekend off to prepare for the National Championships, In W-1, the final weekend brings a number of key division match-ups, including who goes to the W-1 National Championship from the Northern and Northeast conferences.

Nathalie Geeris is the W-1 PLAYER OF THE WEEK With the entire season riding on the game, Boston Renegades midfielder Nathalie Geeris scored three goals to lead the Renegades to a 5-2 win over the Long Island Lady Riders and first-place tie in the Northeast Conference. The hat trick earned Geeris W-1 Player of the Week honors.

Tiffany Tisdale is the W-2 PLAYER OF THE WEEK Charlotte Lady Eagles forward Tiffany Tisdale scored two goals, including the game-winner, against Cincinnati to give the first-year Lady Eagles the W-2 Atlantic Conference championship. Tisdale's conference-winning performance earned her W-2 Player of the Week honors.

Three critical games this weekend for W-2 League as play-off time approaches

A huge weekend ahead for the W-2. As the two leaders in three of the four conferences meet this weekend. Charlotte travels to Atlanta, Springfield travels to New York and Indiana plays host to Cincinnati.

In three of the four W-2 conferences, the race is down to two teams. The fourth being the W-2 Western where all four teams are mathematically alive. Oklahoma (5-4-1) currently leads the conference with 25 points, but Colorado (3-4-1), with 14 points, has two games in hand.

The five-team W-2 Atlantic is down to a close one between the Atlantic Classics (6-3-1) with 27 points and the Charlotte Lady Eagles (5-3-1) with 23 points. The two teams meet Saturday in Atlanta.

The expansion Cincinnati Ladyhawks (6-1-2) with 31 points are hanging on to a three-point lead over the Indiana Blaze (6-2-1) in the W-2 Central Conference. The Ladyhawks have scored a W-2-high 28 goals and have allowed a W-2-low eight goals. Cincinnati travels to Indiana Sunday for the conference showdown.

1999 W-2 runners-up Springfield Sirens (8-1) are in command of the top spot in the W-2 Northern Conference, but two road wins last weekend for the New York Magic (6-3-1) have pulled them within six points of first place. The Sirens, with a game in hand, travel to the Magic Saturday.

Charlotte Lady Eagles midfielder Nkiru Okosieme scored two goals to lead the Lady Eagles to a 4-3 win over the Piedmont Spark Saturday night and be honored as the player of the week. Okosieme's first goal tied the match, 2-2, just before halftime and the Ugandan native notched the game-winner in the 77th minute. The win keeps the Lady Eagles in the Atlantic Conference title race with the Atlanta Classics.

W-1 League battles continue as twelve teams were eliminated from playoff contention last weekend

In W-1, Long Island plays host to Hampton Roads, Raleigh plays at Tampa Bay and Ottawa and Laval meet in Canada.

Eliminated from the playoffs were newly promoted North Texas Heat, and the Piedmont Spark. In the W-1 Northeast the Long Island Lady Riders and the Boston Renegades are still battling it out. The Long Island Lady Riders needed a big-time performance in a crucial Northeast Conference match Sunday against the Boston Renegades and midfielder Kerry Martin provided it to earn W-1 Player of the Week honors. Martin assisted on the tying goal, then notched the game-winner as the Lady Riders defeated the Renegades, 3-1, and extended their conference lead over Boston to five points. Both teams have three games to play.

In the W-1 Northern Conference the Toronto Inferno (6-4-1) lead with 26 points, but the Laval Dynamites (5-4-1) are close behind with 25 points and a game in hand. Although a number of teams are still alive, the front-runners are in the driver's seat in both the W-1 Southern and Western Conferen`ces. The Chicago Cobras (10-0, 48 pts) have the best record in the league and hold an eight-point lead over the Denver Diamonds. The Raleigh Wings are 8-0-1 with a three-point lead over Hampton Roads, but have three games in hand.

Last weekend the Hampton Roads Piranhas defeated the Maryland Pride, 2-1,and the Tampa Bay Extreme defeated the Atlanta Classics. The Chicago Cobras stayed perfect by defeating the North Texas Heat, 3-0... The Denver Diamonds exploded for six goals to defeat the Oklahoma Outrage, 6-0... The Delaware Genies picked up their first win of the season bybeating the New Jersey Wildcats, 2-1, and the New York Magic defeated the New Hampshire Lady Phantoms, 2-1, and the Rhode Island Rays, 1-0 in road games.

W-League All Star Team of the week

Goalkeeper:

Katie Carson, Cleveland EclipseW-2 -- Made numerous saves in 1-1 tie

Defenders:

Julie Augustyniak, Atlanta Classics W-2 Goal, game-winning assist in win
Alisa Pyett, Indiana Blaze W-2-Defense held Fillies to four shots
Toni Catchings, North Texas Heat W-1- Back four allowed just three shots
Kerry Gragg, Atlanta Classics W-2 -Scored in second straight game

Midfielders:

Amy Jones, Tampa Bay Extreme W-1-Two goals in win over Jade
Amy Apps, Toronto Inferno W-1- Scored both goals in 2-0 victory

Forwards:

Christie Welsh, Long Island Lady Riders W-1- Game-winner in Lady Rider debut
Tammy Pearman, Maryland Pride W-1-Goal, assist in five minutes in win
Jen Gross, Northern Virginia Majestics W-2-Three first-half goals in 6-0 victory
Charmaine Hooper, Chicago Cobras W-1- Scored three goals at Soldier Field

W-League Players of the Week

W-1 Player of the week - Amy Jones
Amy Jones scored a pair of goals three minutes apart early in the Tampa Bay Extreme's 4-0 victory over Jacksonville to earn this week's W-1 Player of the Week honors. Both of Jones' goals were assisted by Kalli Kamholz, with the first coming in the ninth minute on a side-volley from about eight yards in front of the Jacksonville goal. A Kamholz cross found Jones again in the 12th minute, this time the midfielder headed it past Jade goalkeeper Melissa Carr. The Extreme improved to 2-1 with the home-opener victory.

W-2 Player of the week -Jen Gross
Jenn Gross' first-half hat-trick lifted the Northern Virginia Majestics to a 6-0 victory over Delaware Saturday and earned her the W-2 Player of the Week. Gross staked the Majestics to a 2-0 lead with goals in the 10th and 16th minutes, then completed her hat-trick in the 39th minute with an unassisted tally. Gross left the game in the 65th minute after the Majestics had added two more goals to increase their lead to 6-0. With the victory, Northern Virginia improved to 2-0-2 with 12 points at the top of the Atlantic Conference.

Other W-League news

In the W-1 Northeast Conference, four playoff-caliber teams are battling each other through a 14-game schedule for one playoff spot, making every game crucial. Boston and Long Island won their first two games of the year, so next Saturday's match between the teams at North Hempstead Town Park will give the winner a winning edge toward the championship.

The host Lady Riders' newest acquisition, 19-year-old U.S. Women's National Team forward Christie Welsh made the most of her presence to beat the Renegades, 2-0.

Elsewhere in the W-League over the weekend, in a matchup of last season's W-1 and W-2 regular season champions at Soldier Field in Chicago, the Chicago Cobras defeated North Texas, 5-0. The two-time defending W-1 champion Raleigh Wings overwhelmed Piedmont, 8-0, in mid-week action, then sneaked a 2-1 victory from Hampton Roads. In W-2, the Springfield Sirens came-from-behind to defeat New York, 3-2, in a meeting between two of last year's semi-final representatives.

On Long Island, the Renegades outshot the Lady Riders, 17-5, but four-time league Goalkeeper of the Year Kim Wyant made seven saves to preserve the shutout. She received some assistance, though, as the Renegades hit the woodwork three times. The shutout was Wyant's third of the year and increased her season-long consecutive scoreless streak to 270 minutes.

Wyant was given all of the offensive support she would need when Welsh and Margaret Tietjen scored four minutes apart midway through the first half. The game-winner was set up when Laura Martin's 25-yard free kick was knocked in by Welsh in the 20th minute.

With the win, Long Island grabs the upper hand on the rest of the conference with a 3-0-0 record and 13 points. The Renegades maintain second place at 2-1-0 and nine points, with Maryland close behind at 1-1-1 and six points. The New Jersey Lady Stallions, who were 9-5 last season, have suffered three key losses already and have yet to score a goal.

With the revised league alignment in 2000, each of the four conference champions qualifies for postseason play, advancing directly into the semi-finals. Raleigh leads the Southern Conference with 15 points, North Texas, despite losing to Chicago, still leads the Western Conference with 14 points and the expansion Ottawa Fury lead the Northern Conference with eight points.

After sitting out her team's opener with shin splints, Canadian Women's National Team star Charmaine Hooper returned to the Chicago Cobras Saturday and led them to a 5-0 victory over North Texas with a hat-trick in front of 2,400 fans at Soldier Field in Chicago. She opened the scoring in the 7th minute on a goal on an assist by Marci Miller, who also made her first appearance of the season for the 1999 W-1 regular season champions. The Heat were able to keep the game close until halftime, but Miller added a second goal for the Cobras in the 51st minute and Hooper struck in the 56th minute and converted a penalty kick four minutes later to put the game out of reach. Miller closed out the scoring with her second goal of the game in the 80th minute.

Saturday's game was played at Chicago's Soldier Field as the prelude to a doubleheader, which featured Major League Soccer's Chicago Fire taking on the New England Revolution.

A look ahead

With games at Rochester and Toronto, the Long Island Lady Riders hope to improve to 5-0 and surpass the Raleigh Wings as the top team in W-1. The defending champion Wings play host to Piedmont, which it defeated, 8-0, on May 17. Fort Collins, which won the W-2 championship in 1998, opens its second year in W-1 Saturday against Denver. A pair of early-season unbeatens will face off in a Northern Conference battle Friday when the expansion New Brunswick Power play host to the Springfield Sirens. Another expansion franchise plays its inaugural game in W-2 Friday when the Colorado Gold play host to the Denver Diamonds.

Transactions

The Atlanta Classics have signed several players including Juliana Filipe, Heather Roddenberry and Clemson University's Deliah Arrington, Lea Shreve, Tricia Williams and Tatum Clowney . The Tampa Bay Extreme signed Orlando native Aly Benitez, an NCAA All-American at the Univ. of Virginia.
The Northern Virginia Majestics, who scored a total of 10 goals in their inaugural season last year, have already found the back of the net 14 times in their first four games in 2000 . Boston's Kerry Connors needs one goal to become the Renegades all-time leading goalscorer . The Indiana Blaze won its second straight season-opener Friday with a 2-1 victory over Kentucky.
Long Island Lady Riders goalkeeper Kim Wyant has been selected to co-host five segments of the weekly soccer information show "Soccer Zone," which is shown regionally on Madison Square Garden network on Saturday's at 9:00 a.m. Eastern ... The Tampa Bay Extreme is sponsoring a Kix For Kidz Ticket Program, in which corporations can purchase tickets for Extreme games and donate them to various children's charities . The Atlanta Classics home game Saturday against Charlotte is being sponsored by the Gwinnett Soccer Association.

DYNAMITES DOMINATE HAITI IN FRIENDSHIP OPENER
The Laval Dynamites beat the Haitian Women's National Team, 4-0, Saturday at Berthiaume DuTremblay Stadium in the first match of the Friendship Cup.

In her Laval debut, Rachel Yankey fed Sonia Moore for the eventual game-winner in the 23rd minute. The Dynamites added three goals by Lyne Couture, Annie Perrault and Marie-Claude Henry in a five-minute span late in the game to ice the victory.

The Dynamites play their first home game of the season Sunday against the Delaware Genies at 2:00 p.m. Eastern. Laval lost its season-opener, 1-0, to the expansion Ottawa Fury on May 13.