Football
Associated Press 20y

Spirit 2, Courage 1; Charge 2, CyberRays 0

CARSON, Calif. -- Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy, Kristine Lilly, Joy
Fawcett and other members of the United States women's national
team competed against each other Sunday to try to revive the
professional league they helped create.

Lilly and France's Marinette Pichon scored to give the
Philadelphia Charge a 2-0 victory over the San Jose CyberRays in
front of 7,123 in the second game of a doubleheader.

In the first game, Angela Hucles and Abby Wambach scored in the
San Diego Spirit's 2-1 victory over the Carolina Courage.

The doubleheader was the last of what organizers called
festivals, designed to gauge and stimulate interest in the revival
of the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA), which dissolved in
September after three seasons.

The four teams that played Sunday were charter members of the
eight-team league and all used guest players from other WUSA teams.

The festival in Carson included youth clinics and meetings with
potential investors.

"There is a lot of interest from prospective owners and
prospective sponsors," said Tony DiCicco, the former WUSA
commissioner who coached the United States in the 1999 Women's
World Cup.

"But they need to see a business plan," DiCicco said.
"Sponsors want to see what a national marketing campaign is going
to look like and where our teams are going to be. Potential owners
are looking at the cost of running a franchise and the break-even
scenario."

DiCicco, chairman of the league's reorganization committee, said
the WUSA hopes to have a business plan by the end of the summer for
returning in either 2005 or 2006.

Pichon, the league's most valuable player in 2002, gave
Philadelphia a 1-0 lead in the 26th minute with a 7-yard header
between goalkeeper LaKeyshia Beene and the left post.

In the 52nd minute, Lilly converted Pichon's pass from 13 yards
inside the left post.

Goalkeepers Melissa Moore and Siri Mullinix combined for the
shutout. Mullinix, a member of the United States' national team,
replaced Moore in the 46th minute.

Hucles scored in the 27th minute on an 18-yard line drive into
the upper-left corner of the net. Wambach, who tied Hamm for the
WUSA's scoring championship last year, gave San Diego a 2-0 lead in
the 61st minute with a 6-yard header.

Wambach played for the United States in the Women's World Cup
last year. Hucles was on the roster for that tournament but
injuries kept her out of action.

Charmaine Hooper converted a penalty kick in the 67th minute for
Carolina's only goal. Hooper played in the 1999 and 2003 Women's
World Cups for Canada.

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