U.S. WOMEN ABROAD (May 27-30): Augustyniaks, FFC Turbine seek German Cup title

• by Soccer America , May 28, 2004

Julie and Nancy Augustyniak, who twice reached the WUSA Founders Cup final -- and twice lost in overtime -- seek some silverware Saturday when FFC Turbine Potsdam takes on FFC Frankfurt in the German WomenÆs Cup title game at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin.

FFC Frankfurt, led by former Carolina Courage striker Birgit Prinz and featuring former Washington Freedom midfielder Steffi Jones and defender Sandra Minnert, is looking for its sixth successive DFB Pokal-Frauen championship. Turbine, runner-up to Frankfurt in the league race the past four years, is seeking its first major trophy.

Prinz, Jones and Minnert won WUSA titles, but the Augustyniaks --- defenders for the Atlanta Beat --- were on the losing side in 2001 (vs. San Jose) and 2003 (vs. Washington).

Nancy Augustyniak has been a steady presence for Turbine, primarily on the backline, since the twins arrived in Germany in February. Julie Augustyniak has played a reserve role.

Turbine has the top attack in the Frauen-Bundesliga this season, with five players -- Anja Mittag (13), Jennifer Zietz (11), Petra Wimbersky (10), Viola Odebrecht and former Beat forward Conny Pohlers (10) -- with at least 10 goals. The backline is anchored by German World Cup star Ariane Hingst.

Prinz, the reigning FIFA World Player of the Year, has 19 league goals for Frankfurt, including two in a 3-0 league victory at Turbine in early March. Only FFC Heike RheineÆs Kerstin Garefrekes, with 21, has netted more.

Prinz also has scored 11 goals in four cup games, seven of them in a 20-1 destruction of SG Joessnitz in the first round.

Turbine is unbeaten since the loss to Frankfurt, a span of eight games. Frankfurt, coming off a scoreless tie at home against SC 07 Bad Neuenahr, has lost only once this season, 3-0 to SwedenÆs Umea IK in the first leg of the UEFA WomenÆs Cup final. The second leg, in Frankfurt, is slated for June 5.

Turbine (16-1-1 in the Frauen-Bundesliga) trails Frankfurt (18-0-2) by seven points in GermanyÆs top womenÆs league but would claim the championship by winning its final four games. The teams meet again in the season finale on June 13.

Asker, with former Philadelphia Charge forward Darci Borski, routed third-tier Rolvsoy, 10-2, in the second round of the Norwegian WomenÆs Cup. Asker has won the NM Kvinner four times, most recently in 2000.

The Russian League returns to action Friday, with first-place FC Energy Voronezh -- with U.S. national team pool defender Jenny Benson, BorskiÆs former Charge teammate -- playing at Nadejda, outside Moscow.

GermanyÆs VfL Wolfsburg (Tracey Winzen) and FinlandÆs FC Honka (Becky Barritt) also will be in action this weekend. A full slate of German and Swedish games will be played Monday. IcelandÆs top league is off until June 6.

FINLAND

* Becky Barritt (FC Honka, D1), at SCR, Sunday.
Season league stats: 1 game, 0 goals.

GERMANY

* Tracey Winzen (VfL Wolfsburg, D1), vs. FCR 2001 Duisburg, Saturday.
Season league stats: 8 games, 1 goal.

German Cup, Final

* Julie Augustyniak (FFC Turbine Potsdam, D1) vs. FFC Frankfurt (D1) in Berlin, Saturday.
League cup stats: 1 game, 0 goals.

* Nancy Augustyniak (FFC Turbine Potsdam, D1) vs. FFC Frankfurt (D1) in Berlin, Saturday.
League cup stats: 1 game, 0 goals.

NORWAY
NM Kvinner, Second Round

* Darci Borski (Asker, Toppserien), at Rolvsoy (D2), 10-2 (Thursday).
Details unavailable.
Season cup stats: Unavailable.

RUSSIA

* Jenny Benson (FC Energy Voronezh, D1), at Nadejda, Friday.
Season league stats: 2 games, 0 goals.