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Beat Announces 2003 Preseason Schedule and Roster

February 27, 2003 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
Atlanta Beat News Release


ATLANTA (February 27, 2003) - The Atlanta Beat will officially kick off the preseason on March 1, when the Beat gathers as a team for the first time since November 2002. The team will consist of a 28-player roster that includes well-known veterans, such as Briana Scurry, Cindy Parlow and Charmaine Hooper. The newcomers to the Beat's squad, that will be vying for a spot on the opening day roster, are recent international signings Conny Pohlers (Germany) and Maribel Dominguez (Mexico), as well as talented drafts picks Callie Withers (Stanford) and Leslie Gaston (UNC), two of the Beat's five 2003 draft selections.

The Beat's preseason will begin with two training sessions each day starting on Saturday, March 1. The training sessions will be held at Rose Bowl Field on the Campus of Georgia Tech at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. each day. The Beat hits the road for the first of seven preseason exhibition games on March 6, as the team travels to Nebraska to face the University of Nebraska on March 7 at 7 p.m. CST and the Philadelphia Charge on March 8 at 2 p.m. CST at Abbott Sports Complex. (Complete preseason exhibition schedule, including ticket information, and roster included below.)

The Beat returns to Atlanta for training sessions and will then travel just up the road to take on the University of Tennessee Lady Vols on March 12 at 7 p.m. EST at UT Soccer Complex in Knoxville. On March 15, the Beat will take on the Auburn Lady Tigers in Fayetteville, GA, in an exhibition match exclusively for the Fayette County Youth Soccer League and AFC Lightning.

On March 19, the Beat will face the defending WUSA Champion Carolina Courage at 6:30 pm EST at Macpherson Stadium at Bryan Park in Greensboro, NC. The Beat and Courage last met in the 2002 semifinals, with the Courage coming from behind to claim a 2-1 golden goal victory. The win over the Beat sent Carolina to Founders Cup II and an eventual WUSA championship title.

Almost immediately following the Beat's return from Greensboro, the team will head to Memphis, TN, for a showdown versus the Washington Freedom on Saturday, March 22 at 7:30 p.m. CST at Mike Rose Soccer Complex. The match versus the Freedom will be the final opportunity for players to leave an impression on the Beat coaching staff, as the official 20-player 2003 roster will be named on Monday, March 24.

The final preseason exhibition match and the first appearance for the official 2003 Atlanta Beat squad will take place in Houston on March 26, as the Beat travels back to Rice University Track/Soccer Stadium, to take on the San Diego Spirit at 7 p.m. CST. The Beat and Washington Freedom played to a sellout crowd of over 5,000 in October 2002 when Houston hosted its first WUSA exhibition.

The Beat opens up at home on April 5, 2003, versus the New York Power. Full Season Tickets as well as a special Five-Game Beat Pack, that features tickets to the most popular games in 2003, are currently available at prices starting at just $99 for all 11 games and $45 for the Five Pack. Individual tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at all TicketMaster outlets or by calling the TicketMaster number in your area. In Atlanta, call (404) 249-6400 and from outside Atlanta call 1-800-326-4000. For additional details and to learn more about all the exciting benefits of being a Beat Season Ticket Holder or Five-Game Beat Pack Member call 1-877-SOCCER-1.

The Atlanta Beat is one of eight professional women's soccer teams that make up the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA), the world's premier women's soccer league. For more information call 1-877-SOCCER-1 or log onto www.theatlantabeat.com.

2003 Atlanta Beat Preseason Exhibition Schedule

University of Nebraska Exhibition - Lincoln, NE 3/7 - Atlanta Beat vs. Univ. of Nebraska, 7 p.m. CST, Abbott Sports Complex 3/8 - Atlanta Beat vs. Philadelphia Charge, 2 p.m. CST, Abbott Sports Complex Tickets go on sale March 3, or can be purchased day of game. To buy tickets in advance call the Cornhusker Ticket Office at 402-472-3111 or 1-800-8BIGRED.

University of Tennessee Exhibition - Knoxville, TN 3/12 - Atlanta Beat vs. Univ. of Tennessee, 7 p.m. EST, UT Soccer Complex Tickets can be purchased day of the game. To find out more information about ticket sales call 865-974-9100. For directions to the University of Tennessee log onto www.utk.edu/maps/.

Auburn University Exhibition - Fayetteville, GA 3/15 - Atlanta Beat vs. Auburn University, 6 p.m. EST

Carolina Courage Exhibition - Greensboro, NC 3/19 - Atlanta Beat vs. Carolina Courage, 6:30 p.m. EST, Macpherson Stadium at Bryan Park Tickets are priced at $20 for club seats, $15 for reserved seating, and $9 for general admission. To purchase tickets, contact the Greensboro Youth Soccer Association at (336) 358-8030 or visit online at www.greensborosoccer.com or www.carolinadynamo.com.

Washington Freedom Exhibition - Memphis, TN 3/22 - Atlanta Beat vs. Washington Freedom, 7:30 p.m. CST, Mike Rose Soccer Complex Presented by the Collierville Soccer Association and Corky's BBQ. To purchase tickets call (901) 854-8724. Club seating is sold out and general admission tickets are $12. For more information on the match log onto www.mikerosesoccercomplex.com/wusagame.htm.

San Diego Spirit Exhibition - Houston, TX 3/26 - Atlanta Beat vs. San Diego Spirit, 7 p.m. CST, Rice University Track/Soccer Stadium Presented by the Houston Women's Soccer Association, proceeds from the event will go to the HWSA Scholarship Fund and the HWSA Field Development Fund. For more information on the event, including ticket prices and directions, log onto www.hwsa.org/wusa2003.htm.

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