Beat Advances to WUSA Championship Game with Thrilling 2-1 Overtime Victory

August 17, 2003 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
Atlanta Beat News Release


ATLANTA (August 17, 2003) - The Atlanta Beat advanced to their second WUSA championship game in three years, with a 2-1 overtime victory over the San Diego Spirit on Sunday night. The Beat, down for 52 minutes in regulation, used a Conny Pohlers stoppage time goal to tie and send the game into overtime. In the 4th minute of overtime Charmaine Hooper raced onto a 40-yard long pass and sent a left-footed shot past Spirit keeper Jenni Branam for the goal, her 14th career game winner.

Although absorbing pressure throughout the first 15 minutes, the Spirit was able to hang tough and went up 1-0 in the 38th minute off an Aly Wagner goal. The play began on the right side of the field, with Kerry Connors sending a low cross into the center of the penalty area. Julie Fleeting and Nancy Augustyniak challenged for the ball and it popped out to Wagner, who sent a first-time shot into the right corner of the goal.

The game went into the half 1-0 and San Diego was 13-0-4 all-time when leading at the half and 16-1-7, when scoring first. The Beat made only one substitution at halftime, bringing Marci Miller into the game for rookie Kristin Warren.

Needing to come from behind, the Beat pressured San Diego's defense early and often in the second half, but the defense always seemed up to the task. The Beat looked to have a clear chance, when Hooper sent Maribel Dominguez in on goal in the 58th minute, but San Diego defender Joy Fawcett blocked the Dominguez shot just inside the penalty area.

The Dominguez shot would be the only one until the stoppage time Pohlers goal, although the Beat appeared to have a chance in the 85th minute, when Marci Miller was knocked down in the penalty area while going up for a cross. The call was not made and the game began to get physical in the closing minutes.

The final play of regulation began with the Beat sending a throw in back to Sharolta Nonen, who then played the ball to Kylie Bivens at midfield. Bivens sent a long high ball into the penalty area. Miller and a Spirit defender skied for the ball, with Miller winning the battle and heading the ball down to Hooper's feet. Hooper tangled with Joy Fawcett and deflected the ball to the center of penalty area. Pohlers slid to the ball and sent it past Branam, for the tying goal and her first ever playoff goal.

Every Atlanta Beat playoff game had gone to overtime prior to Sunday's match, with the Beat winning one and losing two of those contests. With the momentum heading into the first overtime, Atlanta pressured the Spirit from the first whistle. In the 4th minute of overtime the final scoring play began. Spirit midfielder Aly Wagner played a short pass into Shauna Rohbock, who then tried to pass to Julie Foudy. Beat defender, Leslie Gaston, broke up the pass the sent a 40-yard ball up the field. Hooper and Fawcett were caught in a foot race and Hooper passed Fawcett to collect the ball. Hooper dribbled into the penalty area and shot the ball to the left of Branam and into the right corner of the goal.

The golden goal victory was the second in the Beat's three-year history and sends the Beat to the championship game to face the Washington Freedom on Sunday, August 24 at 4 p.m. ET at Torero Stadium in San Diego. Torero Stadium is home to the San Diego Spirit.



Women's United Soccer Association Stories from August 17, 2003


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