Beat Defeats Power 2-0 Extending Winning Streak to Four Games

Published on June 9, 2002 under Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
Atlanta Beat News Release


Uniondale, NY (June 9, 2002) - The Beat continued its inspired play, blanking the New York Power 2-0 on the road to extend the team's winning streak to four games and unbeaten streak to five. Charmaine Hooper's fifth goal of the season proved to be the game winner and put her in a three-way tie for the league lead in goals scored. Cindy Parlow recorded her third goal of the season in the win. The Beat's record improves to 5-3-1 with 16 points, placing Atlanta in sole possession of second place.

"Last week Nikki's and Kylie's play was instrumental in the win for us," said Beat Head Coach Tom Stone. "Tonight it was Cindy's and Charmaine's play that did it for us."

Hooper started where she left off last week, scoring the opening goal of the game in the 15th minute. The play started in the midfield, with Kylie Bivens winning a tackle and dishing the ball out to Liping Wang, who in turn passed the ball down the line to Parlow. After dribbling by one defender, Parlow crossed the ball to the back post, where Hooper jumped and headed the ball over Power goalkeeper Nicole Williams. The goal was Hooper's fifth of the season and second in as many games.

The Power had the game's next chance in the 20th minute when midfielder Sara Whalen made a 40-yard run down the right sideline and unleashed a cracking right footed shot from 12 yards out. Beat goalkeeper Briana Scurry dove to her left and made the save on the Whalen shot.

The Beat came back with a great scoring opportunity in the 24th minute after a Power foul on the right corner of the penalty box. Nikki Serlenga sent a curling ball to the back post for Parlow, who headed the ball on goal. Williams made a fingertip save pushing the ball above her and off the crossbar. Bivens was first to the rebound and hit a shot from five yards out, but Williams was quick to react and made the save.

The Beat widened the margin to 2-0 in the 39th minute on an exciting sequence of events resulting in Parlow's third goal of the season. The play began with Liping Wang receiving a pass behind the Power defense for a breakaway. Power defender Krista Davey tracked Liping Wang down and stole the ball before she could fire off a shot. Davey then passed the ball out of the penalty box directly to Beat midfielder Homare Sawa, who took two touches and fired a shot past Williams. The shot hit the left post and rebounded out towards the penalty spot. Parlow took a first time shot into the right corner of the goal.

The Beat held a 2-0 halftime lead and out shot the Power 7-4 with five shots on goal to the Power's two in the first half. Prior to this match, the Beat had not scored twice in the opening half.

Atlanta made one substitution at halftime bringing in defensive midfielder Marci Miller for Liping Wang. Miller sat out the Beat's last match due to a one game red card suspension.

The Power came out the aggressor in the second half and had the first scoring opportunity, coming in the 47th minute when Milbrett was free in the penalty box and took a left footed volley from 10 yards out. The shot was directed high on goal, but Scurry jumped and pushed the ball over the crossbar. Milbrett would have another chance in the 52nd minute when she raced to a long pass and broke through the Beat defense with only Scurry left in her path to goal. Milbrett dribbled at goal from the right side and hit a low left footed shot to Scurry's right, but again Scurry was able to make the save.

The Power created a few more chances in the second half, but Scurry and the Beat defense were up to the task in recording the team's third straight shutout and fourth of the season. Scurry's four shutouts leads the league and her goals against average drops to 1.11.

The Beat heads home to face the Carolina Courage in the team's next match on June 15 at 7 p.m. The Courage comes into the match in third place in the WUSA with 15 points, only one behind the Beat. Atlanta loss to the Courage 1-0 in the first meeting. Saturday's match will be broadcast live on Atlanta's WB-36! Tickets for Atlanta Beat home games range in price from $8-$20 and can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling the TicketMaster number in your area. In Atlanta, call (404) 249-6400 and from outside Atlanta call 1-800-326-4000. Fans can also find a link to TicketMaster on the Beat's web site at www.theatlantabeat.com.

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. In the inaugural 2001 WUSA season, the Beat finished as champions of the regular season and runner-up in the league's championship game, Founders Cup. For more information about the Atlanta Beat visit www.theatlantabeat.com.

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