Aug. 8, 2001
 |
| LaKeysia Beene climbs the ladder to make a save for the CyberRays |
Ten former Notre Dame players have been active this summer during the inaugural season of the Women’s United Soccer Association, with the 10 Irish alums representing the third-most players from any Division I program.
The newest Notre Dame product to join the WUSA is midfielder Holly Manthei (’94-’97), who joined the Boston Breakers in mid-June as a member of their reserve squad while she returns to playing shape. Manthei is reunited on the Breakers with two former Irish teammates, defender Kate Sobrero (’94-’97) and forward Meotis Erikson (’97-’00).
Two other former Irish players-goalkeeper LaKeysia Beene (’96-’99) and defender Kelly Lindsey (’97-’00)-have been key contributors for the first-place Bay Area CyberRays (11-5-4), with Beene ranking among the league’s top netminders.
Former Notre Dame midfielders Shannon Boxx (’95-’98) and Jenny Streiffer-Mascaro (’96-’99) have helped the San Diego Spirit stay in the running for the fourth and final playoff spot in the eight-team league while three past Irish players have been regular members of the Washington (D.C.) Freedom: forward Monica Gerardo (’95-’98), midfielder Anne Makinen (’97-’00) and defender Jen Grubb (’96-’99).
Beene-who has started all 20 games for the Cyber Rays-leads the WUSA in saves (95) and save percentage (.833) while ranking third in the league with an 0.97 goals-against average (she was WUSA player of the week in week nine). Lindsey has made 18 starts and played the fourth-most minutes among the Bay Area field players while helping anchor one of the league’s top defensive units. The CyberRays can clinch a first-place finish by winning at Atlanta on Thursday night.
Sobrero has started 19 games for Boston, with two assists and the third-most minutes played among Breakers field players. Erikson has seen more time in the second half of the season, with eight games played, two starts and one assist.
Grubb has been one of the top players for Washington, playing all 1,800 minutes thus far while recording one goal and two assists. Gerardo has logged 19 games and nine starts, with a pair of goals, while Makinen has appeared in 15 games and started nine (with one assist). Washington-whose top player is USA National Team star Mia Hamm-last week was eliminated from playoff contention (at 6-11-3), as was Boston (7-10-3).
Boxx has started all 19 games for surging San Diego (7-7-5), logging a team-best 1,691 of 1,710 minutes while ranking as the team’s third-leading scorer with three goals and three assists (she helped set up the Spirit’s goal in a key 1-0 win last week at Boston). Streiffer-Mascaro has played in 15 games and started 11, with two goals and two assists. San Diego’s more noteworthy players include U.S. National Team members Julie Foudy and Shannon MacMillan.
Here’s a listing of the WUSA’s remaining games and television coverage (also see www.wusa.com):
Aug. 9, 7:00 ET Bay Area at Atlanta (KICU San Jose)
Aug. 9, 7:00 ET San Diego at Philadelphia (Cox-4)
Aug. 11, noon ET N.Y. at Washington (TNT)
Aug. 12 , 7:00 ET Carolina at San Diego (Cox-4)
Aug. 12, 3:00 ET Philadelphia at Boston, 3 ET (AT&T3)
Aug. 18, 4:30 ET WUSA semifinals, pairings TBA (TNT)
Aug. 18, 6:45 ET WUSA semifinals, pairings TBA (TNT)
Aug. 25, 2:00 ET WUSA title game, Foxboro Stadium (TNT)
 |
 |
 |
| LaKeysia Beene Bay Area CyberRays ND ’96-’99 |
Shannon Boxx San Diego Spirit ND ’95-’98 |
Meotis Erikson Boston Breakers ND ’97-’00 |
 |
 |
 |
| Monica Gerardo Washington D.C. Freedom ND ’95-’98 |
Jen Grubb Washington D.C. Freedom ND ’96-’99 |
Kelly Lindsey Bay Area CyberRays ND ’97-’00 |
 |
 |
 |
| Anne Makinen Washington D.C. Freedom ND ’97-’00 |
Holly Manthei Boston Breakers ND ’94-’97 |
Kate Sobrero Boston Breakers ND ’94-’97 |
 |
||
| Jenny Streiffer-Mascaro San Diego Spirit ND ’96-’99 |
||