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August 11, 2001
Power
downs Freedom 2-0
Rick
Crow
The
New York Power used a goal in each half to earn a crucial 2-0 win
over the Washington Freedom at Navy-Marine Corps Stadium in Annapolis,
Maryland on Saturday. With the victory, the Power clinched a berth
in the 2001 WUSA playoffs, while Washington finished a dreadful
season with a 6-12-3 record.
Needing
just a draw to earn a post-season bid, the Power drew first blood
near the end of the first half when Norwegian international Gro
Espeseth scored off a corner kick from Sara Whalen. Emily Janns
set up the play when she re-directed Whalen's corner to Espeseth
who found the lower-right corner with a right-footer. Subsequent
replays, however, indicated that forward Tiffeny Milbrett was offside
and involved in the play when the shot was launched.
After
intermission, Washington coach Jim Gabarra threw every offensive
weapon he had into the fray, but it was New York that scored the
next and decisive goal when Milbrett finished off a breakaway by
beating Washington goalkeeper Siri Mullinix to the left post. It
was the 16th regular season goal for Milbrett, who finished the
season as the league's leading scorer.
"I
just thank God," said Milbrett. "We put ourselves in a
precarious position [needing to draw or win to make the playoffs],
but we pulled through."
For
Washington, however, it was just one more lackluster performance
in a forgettable season.
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