Spirit defender Fan Yunjie was again spectacular,
thwarting Hamm in one-on-on confrontations on several
occasions late in the match. Spirit midfielder Jen Mascaro
also did a fine job of keeping tabs on Hamm, who took
just one shot in the game, that in the 90th minute, as
both battled on the flank until Mascaro left the game
in the 70th minute. <br><br>"We have a lot of work
to do," said Freedom head coach Jim Gabarra. "We
have to create more openings and more opportunities.
It's all about the match-ups." <br><br>"The monkey is
off our back," added MacMillan. "We knew it was just
a matter of time but our defense really played
great. My hat goes off to them. We shut them down. Our
plan was to make Mia play defense. If she has to go
back on defense, she is going to have a hard time
playing offense." <br><br>The Freedom had a quality
chance to take the lead in the 17th minute when Hamm
played a nice ball to Amanda Cromwell in front of the
net, but she slipped before she could get off a
volley. <br><br>The Spirit bent numerous dangerous
crosses into the penalty area during the match, both from
the run of player and on dead balls, but Mullinix and
the Freedom defense were up to the task. <br><br>In
the 23rd minute, MacMillan hit a scorching free kick
over the crossbar from 25 yards out. The Spirit's
other good chance in the first half came off a corner
kick in the 32nd minute, but Fan's glancing header
flew wide of the left post. <br><br>Mascaro had a
great chance to add to the lead in the 52nd minute
after she ran onto a rebound of her own header, but she
stroked a left-footed shot just over the top of the goal.
<br><br>MacMillan was a menace all night, taking all five of the
Spirit's shots on goal and seven total shots. In the 55th
minute, she got behind the defense and turned well on the
volley, but Mullinix gathered the ball at the near post.
Ten minutes later, MacMillan sidestepped a defender
in the right corner of the penalty area and smacked
a wicked left-footed shot that Mullinix had to slap
away. <br><br>In the 70th minute, a long free kick from
Jen Grubb caused the Spirit some problems as Tracy
Milburn got a head to the ball, but Pagliarulo pushed the
soft shot past right post. <br><br>MacMillan
foreshadowed her goal in the 83rd when substitute Tara Koleski
won a tackle at midfield and sent her through.
Mullinix barely beat MacMillan to the ball as the two
collided outside the penalty box and the ball squirted
away. <br><br>Four minutes later MacMillan completed
her double and the Spirit held on for the historic
first victory in team history. San Diego will travel to
Atlanta for its next game on Saturday, May 12 at Bobby
Dodd Stadium in the Spirit's first-ever nationally
televised game. The match will be seen live on TNT at 9
a.m. PT. <br><br>Juarez made three late substitutes,
inserting Erin Montoya, Karissa Hampton and Missy Wycinsky
in the final six minutes, giving first WUSA minutes
to the latter pair. <br><br><br>Scoring
Summary:<br>SD - Shannon MacMillan 1 (Arkenberg 1, Foudy 1) 33rd
minute SD - Shannon MacMillan 2 (Foudy 2, Boxx 1) 87.
<br><br>SPIRIT -Jaime Pagliarulo, Rhiannon Tanaka, Kim Pickup,
Fan Yunjie, Kristin Bengtsson (Erin Montoya 84),
Shannon Boxx, Julie Foudy - C, Jen Mascaro (Tara Kolseki,
69), Sherrill Kester, Shannon MacMillan (Missy
Wycinsky 89), Traci Arkenberg (Karissa Hampton 87).
<br>TOTAL SHOTS: 13 (MacMillan 7, Mascaro 2, Boxx 2); SHOTS
ON GOAL: 5 (MacMillan 5); FOULS: 11 (Foudy 3, Kester
2, Mascaro 2); OFFSIDE: 5; CORNER KICKS: 6; SAVES:
(Pagliarulo 3); CATCH/PUNCHES: (Pagliarulo 1); CAUTIONS:
None. EJECTIONS: None. <br><br>FREEDOM - Siri Mullinix,
Emmy Barr (Krista Davey, 82), Lindsey Stoecker, Skylar
Little, Jen Grubb, Amanda Cromwell (Monica Gerardo, 76),
Justi Baumgardt (Tracy Milburn, 60), Michelle French,
Mia Hamm, Pretinha, Roseli (Bai Jie, 45).<br>TOTAL
SHOTS: 6 (Six with 1); SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (Three with 1);
FOULS: 12 (Barr 3, Roseli 3); OFFSIDE: 3; CORNER KICKS:
3; SAVES: Mullinix 3;