Atlanta Hold Off San Jose
Published on June 22, 2002 under Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) News Release
ATLANTA, GA - Early goals by Charmaine Hooper and Cindy Parlow proved to be the difference as the Atlanta Beat (6-4-1, 18 pts.) defeated the San Jose CyberRays (5-4-2, 17 pts.) 2-1 at Herndon Stadium on Saturday evening. Parlow's game-winner in the 36th minute moved the Beat into third place in the WUSA standings.
Hooper gave the Beat an early 1-0 lead in the 19th minute. Sharolta Nonen chipped a ball to the right corner of the penalty area where Kelly Cagle was located. Cagle redirected the ball with head to Hooper who was positioned in the center of the area. Hooper took a shot, beating San Jose goalkeeper LaKeysia Beene to her right. The goal was the sixth of the season for Hooper.
Parlow extended Atlanta's lead to 2-0 in the 36th minute with her fourth goal of the season. The Atlanta forward redirected a Nancy Augustyniak cross with a diving header in the box. The shot sailed past a diving Beene, hitting the post and caroming off of the San Jose 'keeper.
San Jose cut into the Beat's lead 2-1 with a 43rd-minute goal by Tisha Venturini-Hoch. The goal was scored on a corner kick by Brazilian midfielder Sissi. On the corner, Sissi sent in a cross that was headed by Brandi Chastain to an open Venturini-Hoch. From 10 yards out Venturini-Hoch blasted a shot past goalkeeper Briana Scurry for the CyberRays goal. The goal was Venturini-Hoch's second of the season.
San Jose nearly tied the match in the 89th minute. Christina Bell collected a loose ball in the box during a corner kick. Bell took a shot that looped over Scurry's head and hit the crossbar. The Atlanta defense was able to clear the ball out of danger following that shot.
Women's United Soccer Association Stories from June 22, 2002
- Beat Defeats CyberRays 2-1 - Atlanta Beat
- Breakers Go On Scoring Binge - WUSA
- Atlanta Hold Off San Jose - WUSA
- Courage Rip Freedom - WUSA
- Courage Topples Nemesis Washington 3-1 - Carolina Courage
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