Atlanta Beat Signs GK Allison Whitworth
October 29, 2009 - Women's Professional Soccer (WPS)
Atlanta Beat News Release
Atlanta, GA (Oct. 21, 2009) - Atlanta Beat General Manager Shawn McGee announced Allison Whitworth as the newest player to join the expansion team's roster. Whitworth is a goalkeeper from Birmingham, Alabama who spent a year with the Atlanta Silverbacks in the W-League before she was drafted to FC Gold Pride (Bay Area) for the inaugural season of Women's Pro Soccer.
"We are absolutely delighted to have signed Allison Whitworth," said Beat Head Coach Gareth O'Sullivan. "She is very athletic, and outside of her playing ability, she is a tremendous person."
As a member of the Atlanta Silverbacks, she held a perfect 8-0-0 record with five shutouts and maintained a.5 goals against average. The 23 year-old is a proud Auburn alumna who not only earned 22 shutouts and set a school record for saves in her final college season, but she was also named SEC Scholar Athlete of the Year in 2007.
"Gareth and I have seen Allison play on numerous occasions, and she is an outstanding goalkeeper," said Beat General Manager Shawn McGee. "We have been watching her for a long time, and we believe that she will be one of the best goalkeepers in the league next year. To be honest, we didn't think would have the opportunity to get her, but we were very fortunate to work a trade with FC Gold Pride."
In that trade, the Atlanta Beat sends two 2010 WPS Draft picks (numbers 10 and 12) to the Bay Area in exchange for Whitworth and the 23rd overall selection.
"I'm excited to be back in Atlanta because it feels like I'm coming home" said Whitworth. "It's a great opportunity to be with a new team in the beginning stages, and it's really close to all my friends and family. The Beat organization has been very welcoming, and it seems like it's about more than just soccer here; the Atlanta Beat is all about community, and that's really important."
About the Atlanta Beat The Atlanta Beat joins Women's Professional Soccer as one of two expansion teams in the 2010 season.
Atlanta entrepreneur Fitz Johnson secured the rights to the Atlanta team in September 2008 before naming Shawn McGee as General Manager and unveiling the team name, logo and colors in June 2009.
McGee hired Head Coach Gareth O'Sullivan in August before acquiring the team's first official players through the 2009 WPS Expansion Draft and International Draft in mid-September. With the 2010 WPS Draft in January, the Atlanta Beat will complete its roster and begin play in Spring 2010.
The Atlanta Beat takes on the same name as the market's former Women's United Soccer Association team which was the only WUSA club to reach the playoffs every season.
The Beat's colors are Ferrari Red, Champion Gold, and Black.
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Women's Professional Soccer Stories from October 29, 2009
- Atlanta Beat Signs GK Allison Whitworth - Atlanta Beat
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