May 22, 2001

Welsh and Gregg named W-1 and W-2 players of the week

Christie Welsh W-1

When the Hampton Roads Piranhas signed U.S. Women's National Team forward Christie Welsh last week, it was expected that she would perform well in W-1. The Jacksonville Jade were looking to silence the newcomer and did so for the first half at the Virginia Beach Sportsplex Saturday. The second half was another story. In the 53rd minute of her debut, she recorded her first point in W-1 with an assist on a goal by defender Lindsey Vanderspeel, which leveled the score at 1-1. Three minutes later, she picked up another assist on a goal by Kele Golebiowski. Then it was her turn. Welsh scored her first W-1 goal in the 70th minute on an assist from defender Amy Taylor to give the Piranhas a 3-1 lead. The team never looked back, picking up two more goals from Katie Robertson in the 75th and 83rd minutes before Welsh capped the night off with her second goal and sixth point of the match in the 87th minute for a 6-1 win over Jacksonville, earning the W-1 Player of the Week honor.

Missy Gregg W-2

Memphis Mercury forward Missy Gregg only had one half to compile her resume for the Player of the Week honor as the game was terminated at halftime due to a severe lightning storm in the area. The Mercury picked up their first-ever win in convincing fashion with a 5-0 thrashing of the Houston Tornados in that sole half of play behind a hat-trick from Gregg and three assists from midfielder Dawn Crow.