Beat Host Regular Season Champions
August 27, 2010 - Women's Professional Soccer (WPS)
Atlanta Beat News Release
KENNESAW, GA (Aug. 27) - The Atlanta Beat (5-10-5) face the 2010 Women's Professional Soccer Regular Season Champions, Bay Area's FC Gold Pride (13-3-4)
on Saturday, Aug. 28 at 7:00 PM in a battle of David versus Goliath as the Beat look to remain in playoff contention.
Under the direction of newly appointed interim head coach James Galanis, the Beat returned to the win column last week posting a 3-2 result against the Boston Breakers in New Britain, CT.
"I think the girls played with a lot of courage, and the whole goal was to go out there and outwork the opponent," said Galanis following the match. "They got ahead. They gained momentum, and it was all a very high spirited game for them . We got the ball and definitely moved it around nicely. I was very proud of them especially in the work rate department."
Beat forward Eniola Aluko also proved to be another bright spot for the Beat this week when the English International garnered WPS Player of Week 19 honors after netting a 73rd minute game winner over the Breakers.
The revived Atlanta club now sits just five points out of the fourth and final playoff spot as it sets its sites on the league's best, FC Gold Pride and the FIFA four-time World Player of the Year, Marta.
The Pride approach this match after Marta netted an early goal against the Chicago Red Stars last week, ending a 279 minute scoring drought for the Bay Area club.
Against Chicago, Marta scored goals in both the first and the last 11 minutes giving the Pride not only a 3-2 result, but also the regular season title and the right to host the WPS Championship presented by Citi on Sunday, Sept. 26.
The Beat and the Pride are both coming off 3-2 wins as they meet again for the first time since their 0-0 draw on Sunday, Aug. 1 at KSU Soccer Stadium. Following that match, both teams went scoreless in the next matches when the Beat fell 2-0 in Boston (Aug. 4) and the Pride played to another 0-0 finish (Aug. 7), this time against the Red Stars. Coincidentally, both the clubs earned a 3-2 result in rematches against those same two teams last week.
As far as goal scoring since that Aug. 1 meeting, the Beat lead the Pride 6-3 in finishing, with an Atlanta tally of at least one goal in the last three consecutive games.
The Beat plays three of its four final regular season games at the KSU Soccer Stadium. The first of those matches is Saturday, Aug. 28 against FC Gold Pride at 7PM.
CALL 678-298-4780 FOR TICKETS OR VISIT WWW.THEATLANTABEAT.COM.
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Women's Professional Soccer Stories from August 27, 2010
- Pride Forward Marta Nominated as Sportswoman of the Year - FC Gold Pride
- Beat Host Regular Season Champions - Atlanta Beat
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