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Beat Ends Skid with 4-1 Win Over Power

July 13, 2002 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
Atlanta Beat News Release


Uniondale, NY (July 13, 2002) - The Atlanta Beat broke its three game slide with a convincing 4-1 win over the New York Power. Sun Wen opened the scoring and Nikki Serlenga, Homare Sawa and Charmaine Hooper followed up with goals en route to the Beat's best offensive performance of the season. Tammy Pearman scored the lone goal for the Power. The Beat's record improves to 7-7-1 with 22 points and vaults the Beat from 5th to 3rd place in the WUSA standings.

The Beat traveled into New York looking to regain its feet after falling in three straight games. The Beat started the game with a few changes in the lineup, most notably was Sun Wen starting for the first time in almost a month. Defender Lisa Krzykowski started the match at right marking back, her first start since breaking her left ulna on May 18. Goalkeeper Melanie Wilson made her second consecutive start, with Briana Scurry still recovering from flu like symptoms and Hooper was back in the lineup after a one game suspension due to yellow card accumulation.

The Beat dominated possession in the early going, working the ball down the flanks and delivering dangerous crosses in front of the Power goal. The Beat had a great scoring opportunity in the 25th minute when Kylie Bivens crossed the ball from the right side. Sawa found herself on the end of the cross, but shot the ball just over the crossbar.

The Power had one good scoring opportunity in the first half, when Tiffeny Milbrett played a nice through ball to Anita Rapp, who was streaking down the left wing. Rapp was virtually in on goal with only Wilson to beat, but her left footed shot skipped wide to the right of goal.

The Beat's first goal came in the 37th minute after Hooper was fouled 23 yards out from goal. The foul resulted in a Beat free kick. Serlenga ran over the ball and Sun Wen followed up and curled a right-footed shot over the wall and into the bottom left corner of the goal. The goal was Sun Wen's third of the season and first since June 29th. The Beat took a 1-0 lead into the locker room at halftime.

With the change in halves, the Beat only got stronger. In the 54th minute Sun Wen stole the ball from the defense above the Power penalty box and played a short pass to Hooper, who was streaking into the box. Hooper gathered the ball and dribbled by two defenders forcing Power defender Kristy Whelchel to bring her down before the she could get a shot off. The center referee whistled for a penalty kick and Serlenga stepped up to the spot. The penalty kick was the third awarded to the Beat this season. The previous two penalty kicks were saved by opposing goalkeepers.

Serlenga stepped to the spot and took a hard shot right up the middle of the goal. The ball hit the under side of the crossbar, bounced down behind the goal line and then came up outside of the goal. The far linesman was standing on the goal line and signaled for the goal, as the ball had crossed the line before bouncing out. The goal was the first of Serlenga's career and it extended the Beat lead to 2-0.

The Beat continued to go at the Power defense and added the third goal in the 57th minute on a nice piece of attacking soccer. Bivens took a ball in the midfield and played a give and go with Parlow. She received the pass back from Parlow, drove down the right wing and sent in a cross to the middle of the goal. Sawa was alone in the box and headed the ball into the top right corner of the goal for her 4th goal of the season.

With a 3-0 lead the Beat was in control of the match, but continued to press forward and would add to the lead in the 77th minute. Emily Burt, who had replaced Parlow in the 71st minute, took a loose ball above the Power penalty box and threaded a pass through to Hooper. With only Webber to beat, Hooper slotted the ball into the net for her 8th goal of the season. The assist was Burt's first of the season.

The Power, determined not to give up, scored its lone goal in the 78th minute. Justi Baumgardt-Yamada played a pass through the Beat defense to a Pearman, who dribbled towards goal and hit a shot towards the right corner of the net. Wilson dove to her left and got a hand on the ball, but it snuck by her into the right corner of the goal.

The Beat snapped its three game slide with the win and vaulted back into the playoff race with 22 points, one ahead of San Jose and Washington. Both San Jose and Washington have games tomorrow and can jump back ahead of the Beat with wins. The Beat's all-time record versus the Power now stands at 4-0-2. The Beat head back to the friendly confines of Herndon Stadium in Atlanta for its next match on Saturday, July 20 at 7 p.m. versus the Boston Breakers. The Beat has lost to and defeated the Breakers this season. 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.

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