Beat Falls 3-1 to the First Place Charge

Published on June 29, 2002 under Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
Atlanta Beat News Release


Villanova, Pa. (June 29, 2002) - The Atlanta Beat fell on the road Saturday night 3-1 to the first place Philadelphia Charge. Charge forward Marinette Pichon notched two goals and defender Erica Iverson scored another for Philadelphia. Beat forward Sun Wen notched her second goal of the season and the Beat's only goal of the game. The Beat's record moves to 6-5-1 with 19 points, although the team remains third in the WUSA standings heading into Wednesday's match up versus the Washington Freedom.

The Beat came out aggressively, looking to jump ahead early on the Charge. Beat forward Kelly Cagle had the game's earliest scoring opportunity as she shot took advantage of a loose ball in the Charge penalty area in the 2nd minute. Her shot was on an open goal, but a Charge defender recovered to make the block. Cagle had another opportunity in the 4the minute when she stole a pass and unleashed a shot from 20 yards out, that sailed just wide to the right of goal.

The Charge came back with a flurry of chances and nearly took the lead in the 12th minute when defender Jen Tietjen sent a long throw in that was flicked on by Iverson. The ball was headed for Charge midfielder Kerry Connors on the back post, but Beat goalkeeper Briana Scurry grabbed the loose ball before Connors could manage a shot.

The Charge capitalized on a chance in the 34th minute as defender Jenny Benson gathered a Beat clearance and passed the ball out to the left wing for midfielder Zhao Lihong. As the Beat defense raced back to defend Zhao sent a long cross to the back post. Pichon snuck by Beat defender Sharolta Nonen and headed in the game's opening goal, also her eighth goal of the season.

The Charge continued to pressure the Beat early in the second half and widened the margin in the 47th minute on an Iverson header. Benson passed the ball to defender Heather Mitts on the right wing. Mitts crossed the ball into the penalty area for a wide-open Iverson, who headed the ball from 12 yards out into the top right corner of the goal.

Charmaine Hooper created the Beat's first second half scoring opportunity when she unleashed a left footed rocket from 25 yards out that sailed wide left in the 61st minute.

The Charge came right back, as Pichon notched her second goal of the game and league leading 9th of the season in the 74th minute to extend the Charge lead to 3-0. Charge midfielder Liu Ailing passed the ball to Pichon, who took one touch and hit a left footed blast towards the right corner of the goal. Scurry dove to her left and got a hand on the ball, but it wasn't enough to keep it from hitting the right corner of the goal.

With the Charge leading 3-0, the Beat brought in forward Emily Burt and midfielder Marci Miller in the 79th minute to give the team some fresh legs. Immediately following the substitution, the Charge was forced backed in its defensive end. Beat midfielder Kylie Bivens headed a short pass to forward Sun Wen, who took two touches to her left and shot the ball into the right corner of the goal from 19 yards out. The goal was Sun Wen's second of the season and first since May 11.

The Beat will remain on the road as the team heads to Washington for its second meeting of the season versus the Freedom scheduled for July 3 at 7 p.m. The Beat defeated the Freedom 1-0 in the first meeting, played on Saturday, April 27. Atlanta has won every meeting versus the Freedom holding a 4-0-0 all-time record over Washington. Washington defeated the New York Power convincingly 4-1 on Saturday night improving their record to 5-5-3 with 18 points. The match will be aired taped delayed on Fox Sports Net South on July 4 at 4 p.m.

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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Women's United Soccer Association Stories from June 29, 2002


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