Battling for an air ball in the 32nd minute, Venturini was in midair when Washington Freedom defender Lindsay Stoecker undercut her, flipping Venturini head first to the turf at RFK Stadium.

It cost Stoecker a yellow card, but it cost the CyberRays the services of one of their top midfield scoring threats for the home opener April 29 against the Boston Breakers. Bracing her fall, Venturini broke the ulna and radius bones of her left wrist and won't be able to train for two weeks.

"I hope Tish won't be out too long," CyberRays coach Ian Sawyers said after the game, before the medical diagnosis was known. "She's been an inspirational player for us."

Sue Hammond, the Freedom trainer who assisted CyberRays trainer Heidi Peterson in caring for Venturini at the stadium, said the injury was obvious from the moment they saw Tish's arm, which was bent in an 'L' shape. But she said the cleanness of the break meant that the injury would not require surgical repair and that would speed her return to the field.

Sissi, Venturini's teammate in the midfield, said Venturini's departure so early in the game was a difficult problem for the CyberRays even though they held an edge in all offensive statistics but goals.

"She was an important player missing," Sissi said. "We players are concerned about getting her back."

Venturini, a seven-year veteran of the U.S. national team who was tied for third in preseason scoring for the CyberRays with three goals and six points, was replaced by a player who, in any other league, would be considered a rookie. But Theresa Wagner, who finished her college career at Washington in November, was the player who was tied with Venturini with three preseason goals.

"I thought Theresa did a good job when she came in," Sawyers said.

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