Charge Find Scoring Touch, Still Seeking Win

Philadelphia Charge Weekly Media Update

Game Recap

Marinette Pichon and Stacey Tullock each had a goal and an assist, as the Philadelphia Charge lost to the New York Power 5-4 on Saturday afternoon at Villanova Stadium. The Power scored twice in the final five minutes, with Krista Davey recording the game-winner in stoppage time to improve her club's overall record to 2-3-0 (6 pts) this season.

Kelly Smith and Deliah Arrington added a goal apiece for the Charge, who have lost three straight to start the season (0-3-0, 0 pts). Melissa Moore had three saves for Philadelphia, which had never allowed five goals in a game prior to Saturday.

Christie Welsh ended with a pair of goals for the Power, who have their first two-game winning streak since June 2001. Tiffeny Milbrett added a goal for New York, which didn't lead the game until Davy put the Power up for good in the final moments of stoppage time.

Game Preview

The Charge will seek a measure of revenge next week when they travel to Washington to take on the Freedom in a rematch of last year's Founders Cup semifinal round. The Freedom beat the Charge 1-0 in that game, earning their first trip to the Founders Cup and spoiling the Charge's bid for a championship for the second straight year. Philadelphia has been relatively successful all-time versus the Freedom, posting a 3-1-2 mark in the six regular-season meetings and are riding a four-game unbeaten streak (2-0-2) versus Washington. At RFK Stadium, the Charge are 2-0-1 all-time.

Quotes

Goalkeeper Melissa Moore on team's effort Saturday vs. NY: "It's difficult when you score so many goals and create so many opportunities to actually say that the downside is that they scored more than us. We need to get better and harder and just play a little more precise and keep possession of the ball more."

Head Coach Mark Krikorian on this season so far: "We knew there was going to be a transition period. A relationship doesn't develop overnight. I keep looking at our group and saying we have a whole lot more talent than we ever had before but we just aren't cohesive enough. It's my job to make us cohesive enough. It's a matter of time before we put it all together. We have to be patient and put it all together. All of us working together can become a very good team. We have very good players."

Krikorian on the health of MF Kelly Smith, who played the first half versus New York: "According to the doctor he said it's just a tweak. He said it could be scar tissue breaking up. She's been on that roller coaster a little bit, where sometimes it feels great and then she twists wrong or gets bumped off balance and we have a situation like today. We have said all along that when she is playing she is quite good, but when she has a flare up obviously she can't go."

Pichon Records First Points of Season

Charge Forward Marinette Pichon recorded her first points of the season on Saturday, scoring a goal and registering an assist. Her goal in the third minute of play was the quickest ever scored by the Charge, who have broken out of an early season scoring slump. In her brief career, which has already awarded her with the MVP and Offensive Player of the Year awards, Pichon has six three-point games and has become the first Charge player to surpass the 30-point plateau (15g, 2a, 32pts).

Tullock Earns First Three-Point Game of Career

Charge MF Stacey Tullock recorded her first three-point game on Saturday, with a goal and an assist. Tullock's previous high was two, which she had achieved twice, last against the San Jose CyberRays on August 7, 2002 when she scored the game-tying goal in a 1-1 deadlock. Tullock now has seven points for her career (3g, 1a), all of which have come in her last six regular-season games.

Smith Scores First Goal Since Last May

On Saturday, Kelly Smith scored her first goal since May 25, 2002 when she scored on a penalty kick versus the Carolina Courage. In her very next game, Smith suffered a season-ending ACL tear in her right knee and had to undergo surgery. The goal Saturday was her first of the 2003 season and ninth of her career. The Englishwoman now has 24 career points.

Charge End Scoring Dry Spell

The Charge have broken out of their 179-minute scoring drought by netting five goals in the last 91 minutes of play. Three of those goals have come off the foot of international players (Pichon, Melanie Hoffmann, Smith) and two from Americans (Tullock, Deliah Arrington).

Team on Three-Game Skid

The Charge have dropped three straight games to start the 2003 season, which is the longest losing streak in team history. The team had never dropped more than two in a row prior to this, having lost back-to-back games only once from June 17-20, 2001 when New York and Bay Area (San Jose) defeated the Charge. This was also the first time in team history that the club has dropped a home opener and it was the second straight home loss to the Power. Dating back to last season Philadelphia has lost four in a row and has allowed eight goals in its last two games, the most the team has ever allowed over a two-game span.

News & Notes

The combined six goals that were scored before the half on Saturday (3 Charge, 3 Power) is the most ever in Charge history ... The three goals allowed by the Charge before the half was the most ever allowed in the club's history ... The three goals the Charge netted before the half tied the most ever scored in one half by the team. The only other time the Charge scored three goals in the first half was on August 6 at home versus the Carolina Courage ... Pavlina Scasna (left foot tendonitis) is doubtful for Saturday's game.

Practice Times

Media representatives seeking to attend a Charge practice should contact the Charge's PR office at 215-952-5492 to confirm location and times for training.