Beat Falls to Courage 2-1 at Herndon Stadium

Published on June 7, 2003 under Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
Atlanta Beat News Release


ATLANTA (June 7, 2003) - The Atlanta Beat fell to the Carolina Courage 2-1 on Saturday afternoon, with the dynamic attacking duo of Danielle Fotopoulos and Birgit Prinz each notching a goal for Carolina in the win. Maribel Dominguez scored her league leading 7th goal of the season, and missed a penalty kick in the match. The Beat's record moves to 4-2-3 with 15 points, while Carolina's record improves to 2-5-1, with 7 points.

The Courage got on the board first when Marci Miller was whistled for a hand ball in the penalty box. A Courage cross hit Miller in the left arm, forcing referee Jennifer Bennett to make the call. Fotopoulos stepped to the penalty spot and sent a hard shot into the top left corner of the goal for her 6th goal of the season. The penalty kick was the third given up by the Beat this season and the second in consecutive games. In the previous two seasons, the Beat had only given up one penalty kick in a regular season game.

Carolina would take a two-goal lead only four minutes later after scoring on a counter attack. The ball was sent into the left corner of the field on the Beat's defensive third and a clearance found Unni Lehn at the top of the penalty area. Lehn sent a pass to Prinz, who was open in the penalty box. Prinz sent a one-time shot past Scurry, into the right corner of the goal, her 5th of the season.

The Beat had not given up two goals in a match since August 17, 2002, in the WUSA semifinal versus the Courage. Atlanta would pull within one goal in the 24th minute off a Dominguez goal, her league leading 7th of the season. The play was started in the midfield as Cindy Parlow played a give and go with Charmaine Hooper. Parlow then dribbled 40 yards up the field and played a short pass through the defense to Dominguez, who dribbled from the left side of the penalty box around Kristin Luckenbill and slotted the ball into the open net. The assist was Parlow's 3rd of the season and Hooper's league leading 6th.

The second half got underway with the Beat looking for the equalizing goal. Atlanta would get the opportunity in the 65th minute when Carolina defender Danielle Borgman was whistled for a foul on Atlanta's Miller in the penalty box. Dominguez stepped up to take the kick and sent a high shot off the top of the crossbar and over the goal.

The Beat out shot the Courage 6-3 in the second half, but could not find the back of the net. The Beat had a chance in the 87th minute when German forward Conny Pohlers got on the end of a Kylie Bivens cross. Pohlers hit a shot to the near post, but Luckenbill stretched her right hand out to make a finger tip save.

The loss snapped a four-game Atlanta unbeaten streak and sent the Beat's record to 4-2-3 in 2003 and a 1-5-1 all time regular season record versus Carolina. The Beat and Courage will meet again next week in Cary, North Carolina, at 7 p.m.

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Women's United Soccer Association Stories from June 7, 2003


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