Sports stats



Beat Erases the Courage Curse with 1-0 Victory Over 2nd Place Team

July 27, 2002 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
Atlanta Beat News Release


ATLANTA (July 27, 2002) - The Atlanta Beat recorded a big win Saturday night versus the 2nd place Carolina Courage. Charmaine Hooper notched the game-winning goal in the 68th minute to help the Beat extend its winning streak to three games and improve its record to 9-7-1 with 28 points. The win was the first ever for the Beat versus the Courage. It snapped a three game losing streak to the Carolina club.

The Beat came into the match versus the Courage on a two game winning streak and looking to erase the curse that Carolina holds over Atlanta. To start the match both teams searched to find the right combinations. The Beat had the first dangerous chance when Sun Wen, making her career best third consecutive WUSA start, flicked the ball through the defense to Cindy Parlow. The ball jumped out in front of Parlow and her shot went straight at Courage goalkeeper Kristin Luckenbill.

Defender Lisa Krzykowski had the next scoring opportunity for Atlanta in the 23rd minute. Sun Wen sent a cross into the Courage penalty area and the clearance found the feet of Krzykowski who took one touch and unleashed a left-footed shot that was headed for the right side of goal, but Luckenbill stepped across to her left to make the save. Only two minutes later the Beat had another chance, this time Sun Wen hit a cracking volley from 20 yards out that sailed right to Luckenbill.

The Courage had its first dangerous scoring opportunity in the 30th minute when a long ball from the defense found Birgit Prinz running at the Beat defense. Prinz cut by Julie Augustyniak and had only Scurry to beat, but Scurry cut off the angle to the goal and Prinz's shot went wide right. Prinz had the Courage's best scoring chance on a breakaway in the 34th minute. Staci Burt sent a long ball from right marking back over the defense to Prinz, who was making a run straight at goal. With Nonen trailing and Scurry running off the goal line, Prinz took a shot from 13 yards out that hit the right post and went out for a goal kick.

The teams went in to the locker room deadlocked and looking for offense. The Beat started the second half with two substitutions, bringing Emily Burt on for Parlow and Marci Miller on for Kylie Bivens. The move to put in Burt would pay off in the second half.

First, the Courage would have another clear chance as the Beat defense almost handed Carolina a goal in the 49th minute. Prinz grabbed a missed clearance in the Beat's defensive third and raced in to the goal box unmarked. As Scurry retreated off her line to make the save, Prinz shot the ball high over the goal.

The Beat settled down on defense after allowing the breakaway and it looked like Atlanta may take the lead in the 64th minute when Hooper cut by a Courage defender and slid the ball through to Burt, who was making a run to goal. As Burt neared the edge of the penalty box, she was taken down from behind by Danielle Slaton. The foul saved a breakaway opportunity and set up a free kick for the Beat. Nikki Serlenga took the free kick, but the ball was stopped by the Courage wall.

Burt and Hooper would combine four minutes later for the eventual game winner. The scoring play began in the Beat's defensive end with Lisa Krzykowski sending a long pass up the middle of the field. The ball found Burt at the top of the penalty box. She laid the ball off to Hooper directly at the top of the box. Hooper took one touch to the right and placed the ball in the top right corner of the goal past Luckenbill. The goal was Hooper's team leading 9th of the season and her third in as many games. Burt, who came on at halftime and assisted on Hooper's goal, has assists on all three of Hooper's goals in the past three games. The goal was also Hooper's 6th game winner of the season.

The game, which was a physical battle throughout, would turn ugly in the final minutes as Sharolta Nonen and Prinz became entangled in a contest for the a ball. Prinz was whistled for a foul and a shoving match ensued with Nonen pushing Prinz and Prinz falling to the ground. Nonen was issued a yellow card. Only one minute later Courge defender Nel Fettig was issued a yellow card for pulling down a Beat player and captain Tiffany Roberts argued the call. Roberts directed the argument towards the center referee, who then issued her a yellow card. She continued to argue the call and was given a red card for abusive language.

In the remaining minutes the Beat held on for the 1-0 shutout over the league's most productive offense. The win for Scurry was her first June 22 and it was her first shutout since June 9. Scurry now leads the league in shutouts with six.

The Beat hits the road next for a two game stretch beginning in San Diego, where Atlanta faces the Spirit on Wednesday, July 31 in the second meeting of the season. The Beat defeated the Spirit in the first meeting 2-0. The Beat then heads from San Diego to Washington D.C. for the final regular season meeting versus the Freedom. The Freedom is currently in 3rd place in the WUSA standings with a record of 8-5-5 and 29 points, one ahead of Atlanta.

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.

• Discuss this story on the Women's United Soccer Association message board...

Women's United Soccer Association Stories from July 27, 2002


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central