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Beat Forward Kelly Cagle Announces Retirement

December 20, 2002 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
Atlanta Beat News Release


ATLANTA (December 20, 2002) - Atlanta Beat forward Kelly Cagle today announced her retirement from the WUSA. Cagle, a two-year member of the Atlanta Beat, is ending her playing career, after helping lead the Beat to two straight postseason appearances and is taking over as the Head Coach of the women's soccer program at Virginia Tech.

"I want to thank the Atlanta Beat for giving me the chance to live my dream of playing professional soccer," said Cagle. "I worked hard and gave it all I could in the past two years and have gained experience that has prepared me for the move ahead."

Cagle's point production was consistent through two seasons, as she notched five points in 2001 and four points in 2002, but it was her versatility and knack for making big plays that Beat Head Coach Tom Stone heralded.

"Kelly had two very productive years on our team and consistently improved from a peripheral player, to one of our top 13," said Stone. "She was able to fill roles on the front line and in the midfield very well and even though she scored only three goals, they were all in big games. We're sad to see her go, but she's one of the great success stories of this league, because she had to wait five years, while keeping herself in shape and good form, before making it to this league."

During the 2002 WUSA season, Cagle played in 18 regular season games starting five and notched one goal and two assists for four points. She played 39 minutes in the Beat's semifinal loss to the Carolina Courage. Cagle's only goal in 2002 came in the second half of the Beat's 2-0 victory on the final day of the regular season. The goal helped clinch a win over the Philadelphia Charge and a playoff berth for the Beat.

In 2001 Cagle played in 11 games starting seven and tallied two goals and one assist for five points. She played nine minutes in the Beat's semifinal win over the Philadelphia Charge. Cagle's two goals came in big moments, as she notched the game-winning goal in a 3-2 victory over the Washington Freedom and scored the equalizing goal versus the San Jose CyberRays in a 1-1 tie to secure a point.

She finishes her WUSA career having played in 29 regular season matches and two in the post season. She notched a total of three goals and three assists for nine points and played 1,255 minutes.

Cagle was drafted in the 10th round of the inaugural WUSA draft. Prior to playing in the WUSA, Cagle played for the W-League's Raleigh Wings from 1998 through 2000. She helped lead the Wings to W-League titles in 1998 and 1999. Cagle also served as an assistant coach at Wake Forest from 1997-2001 and served as an assistant at the University of Texas in 1996.

Cagle is a 1996 graduate of Duke University, where she played and starred for the Blue Devil soccer team. She was a three-time All-American and All-ACC selection in 1993, 1994 and 1995. She was the ACC Player of the Year in 1995 and a finalist for national player of the year as a junior and senior. Cagle holds single season and career records for shots, goals and assists at Duke. She started all 90 games of her career with the Blue Devils and was a member of the U.S. National Team program, from 1992-95 and again in 1999.

The Atlanta Beat's 2003 schedule is here and the Beat opens up at home on April 5, 2003, versus the New York Power. Full Season Tickets as well as a special Five-Game Beat Pack, that features tickets to the most popular games in 2003, are currently available at prices starting at just $99 for all 11 games and $45 for the Five Pack. Individual game tickets will go on sale in February 2003. Call 1-877-SOCCER-1 for additional details and to learn more about all the exciting benefits of being a Beat Season Ticket Holder or Five-Game Beat Pack Member.

The Atlanta Beat is one of eight professional women's soccer teams that make up the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA), the world's premier women's soccer league. For more information call 1-877-SOCCER-1 or log onto www.theatlantabeat.com.

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