Sport’s biggest names in town for women’s soccer exhibition

Steve Guiremand

Friday, March 22, 2002 | 9:14 a.m.

It's a big weekend for college basketball fans with local sports books expected to be packed as the Sweet 16 whittles itself down to the Final Four.

But it's also a huge weekend for local women's soccer fans.

That's because the San Jose CyberRays, inaugural champions of the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA), will face the San Diego Spirit in a preseason game on Saturday night at Cimarron-Memorial High School at 7 p.m.

More than 2,000 tickets have been sold for the event which will feature some of the nation's top female soccer players, including former Sports Illustrated covergirl Brandi Chastain and U.S. National Team members Julie Foudy, Shannon MacMillan and Joy Fawcett as well as Brazilian star Sissi.

It will also be a homecoming for San Jose goalie Alice Gleason, a third round draft pick of the CyberRays after starring at UNLV last fall. Gleason is battling for a spot with the CyberRays as the No. 2 goalie. Former Rebel assistant coach Maren Hendershot also is expected to play for San Jose.

Tickets for the game are $15. Proceeds will benefit the UNLV Women's Sports Foundation.

"It should be a fun event," UNLV women's soccer coach Dan Abdalla said. "It's a great opportunity for some of the younger girls in the community to come out and see and meet some of their role models in the sport. Even if we didn't make any money from this, I just think it would be a great event for all of Nevada. It's a chance to see soccer performed at its highest level."

Among the world class players who will be on hand:

Chastain is rehabbing from knee surgery for torn cartilage and is questionable to play. However, team officials said she will make the trip and sign autographs afterward.

"It gives some of the younger girls playing soccer around here a chance to see and meet their idols," Abdalla said. "Maybe it will help inspire them to go for their own goals."

The preseason game is just part of a big soccer weekend in town. About 500 kids have signed up to take part in a Saturday morning clinic with the CyberRays and Spirit at UNLV.

Meanwhile, next door to Cimarron at the new Bettye Wilson Soccer Complex on the corner of Lake Mead Boulevard and Tenaya, about 210 youth soccer teams from the western United States will compete in the Premier Soccer Club Tournament.

Tickets for Saturday night's game can be obtained by calling 895-1943 and at various sporting and soccer stores in town.