Beat Extends Winning Streak Looks for Fourth Straight in New York

Published on June 3, 2002 under Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
Atlanta Beat News Release


Charmaine Hooper and Homare Sawa led the Beat to its third straight win, a 2-0 blanking of the San Diego Spirit at Torero Stadium. Hooper's goal, the game winner, was her team leading fourth of the season. Sawa scored her first goal of the season on a cracking volley in the 74th minute and notched her fourth assist of the season on Hooper's game winner.

With the win Atlanta's unbeaten streak was extended to four games, a dramatic turnaround after the team started the season 1-3-0. The Beat played arguably its best game of the season versus the Spirit, holding San Diego to only three shots on goal for the game. The most threatening chance the Spirit had was a first half volley by Lori Lindsey that sailed high of the goal.

Briana Scurry recorded her second straight shut out and third of the season. Scurry is tied with CyberRays goalkeeper LaKeysia Beene for the league lead in shutouts, as Beene blanked the Philadelphia Charge in a 0-0 tie Saturday. After allowing nine goals in the first five games, the Beat has hunkered down on defense and allowed only one in the past three contests.

Tom Stone Quotes on Match versus the Spirit: "Briana Scurry had a great game. Hooper and Parlow had great games. But it was our midfield that defined the game today. Nikki and Kylie played well together and Liping and Sawa played well together."

"We were excited to get the first goal of the game and have found that when we do, we hold the lead very well."

"Hooper brings it every week. I don't know what she's been eating, but it's working. She battles every minute of the game and gives us everything she has."

"Sometimes we're fun to watch play, but we're not trying to win any beauty pageants. We play to our strengths, which many times is playing direct, so Hooper and Parlow get the ball quickly."

"In the first few games we withdrew a little from the pressure. In the past four games we've come out the aggressor and are starting to become a first half team."

Outlook for Week 9
Atlanta Beat (4-3-1, 13 pts) vs. New York Power (2-5-1, 7 pts)
Sunday, June 1, 6:00 p.m.
Atlanta Broadcast: Fox Sports Net South
All-time Series record (Atlanta Beat 2-0-2)
Top scorers in Series: Charmaine Hooper (3G, 0A, 6 pts), Cindy Parlow (2G, 0A, 4 pts)
Key Players Out: Lisa Krzykowski (Broken left ulna)

The Atlanta Beat meets the New York Power on Sunday, June 9, in the second meeting of the 2002 season. The Beat played the Power to a disappointing 3-3 tie on Saturday, May 11 at Herndon Stadium.

The Beat had its best offensive performance that day scoring three goals after going down 1-0, but the Power came back with the help of some defensive errors by the Beat. Power forward Minna Mustonen scored her first goal of the season to put the Power ahead. In the second half the Beat came out strong as Charmaine Hooper, Kylie Bivens and Sun Wen scored for Atlanta. In the 84th minute Tiffeny Milbrett took a misplayed Beat clearance and scored a breakaway goal. With only stoppage time remaining, the Beat appeared to be headed to a win, but the Power received a gift in the 93rd minute. Briana Scurry misplayed a ball at the top of the penalty box and Krista Davey gathered the loose ball and shot it over the defense and Briana Scurry into the open net.

The Beat is 2-0-2 all-time versus New York and holds an 8-4 scoring advantage in the series. The Beat defeated the Power 3-0 in their only meeting in New York last season. Charmaine Hooper had two second-half goals, including the game winner.

Key matchup: Beat forward Charmaine Hooper

versus Power forward Tiffeny Milbrett. Hooper and Milbrett each have four goals on the season, tied with four others for the league lead. Hooper leads the league in game winners, with three. Milbrett leads the league in points scored with 12 on four goals and four assists. Hooper's last visit to New York was a memorable one as she notched two goals, including the game winner. In the last meeting between the teams, each player had one goal. Tom Stone quotes on match versus the New York Power:

"New York remains the same dangerous team they were when the season started. They have not had the results they wanted, but they've shown an ability to score against every team whether they are in charge of the game or not."

"We saw what they could do when we had them down 3-1 at home. They scored two goals in five minutes to take two points away from us."

"I believe that we have matured as a team since our last meeting, but now we have to deal with a full NY line-up since Rapp and Ormen are back for this game."

"We have always played well against New York, but Tiffeny and company have always been a huge challenge for our defense. Hopefully our defense will continue to play as well as it has in the past two games. When our defense plays well, it sets up our offense nicely."

Injury update:
Sun Wen - Probable (left adductor strain)
Lisa Krzykowski - Out (broken left ulna)

Atlanta Beat Training Schedule

The Atlanta Beat training schedule for this week has not been finalized. For members of the media wishing to attend practice or wishing to set up individual interviews, please contact Lee Kallman at 404-269-7357 or Stephen Rodriguez at 404-441-3030.

Atlanta Beat Notes:

Beat Winning Streak Best in Team History

The Atlanta Beat is currently on a three game winning streak and a four game unbeaten streak. The three straight regular season wins are the most in team history. In 2001, the Beat won two games in a row four times, but never three in a row. Charmaine Hooper Still Ahead of Pace

Charmaine Hooper has scored four goals eight games into the 2002 season. Last season, Hooper ranked second among goal scorers with 12. Eight games into the 2001 season, she had notched three goals. Eight games into 2002 she's one goal ahead of last season's pace.

Nikki Serlenga Assist Streak Continues

Beat midfielder Nikki Serlenga notched her league leading fifth assist of the season on Charmaine Hooper's game winning goal versus the Spirit on Saturday, June 1. The assist was Serlenga's fourth in as many games and third on game winning goals.

Beat Still Tops When Scoring First

The Beat extended its unbeaten streak when scoring first to 11-0-3, the best mark all-time in the WUSA. The Spirit is the only other team that has not lost when scoring first, with a mark of 8-0-3.

Beat Goalkeeper Briana Scurry Notches Another Clean Sheet

Briana Scurry recorded her second straight shutout and third of the season as the Beat defeated the Spirit 2-0 on the road Saturday, June 1. Scurry's third shutout came just hours before CyberRay's keeper LaKeysia Beene blanked the Philadelphia Charge in a 0-0 tie, for her third of the season. The two are tied for the league lead in shutouts.

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Women's United Soccer Association Stories from June 3, 2002


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