Beat Looks for Revenge Versus San Jose in Saturday's Rematch of 1-0 CyberRays Win

Published on May 12, 2003 under Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
Atlanta Beat News Release


ATLANTA (May 12, 2003) - The Atlanta Beat heads into the 7th week of the WUSA season with a 2-1-2 record and eight points. The Beat tied the San Diego Spirit on Saturday to avoid a two game losing streak, and next faces the San Jose CyberRays, on Saturday, May 17, in Atlanta, in a rematch of the Beat's only loss of the season. The CyberRays are undefeated in three games and are led by U.S. Women's National Team member Brandi Chastain and the Brazilian attacking duo of Katia and Pretinha.

Atlanta Beat vs. San Jose CyberRays Preview - Saturday, May 17, 7 p.m. Herndon Stadium - ATLANTA The Atlanta Beat will face the San Jose CyberRays on Saturday in a rematch of the 1-0 game on May 3, won by the CyberRays. The Beat, which started off 2-0-0 and scored 11 goals in the first two games of the season, are winless and have scored only two goals in three games since.

In the last meeting, the CyberRays handed the Beat its only loss of the season to date. The duo of Brandi Chastain and Sissi combined for the game's only goal.

Sissi sent a bending cross to the back post, for Chastain, who rose above the defense and headed home the goal.

The Beat and CyberRays have met seven times during the regular season and the Beat has a 4-2-1 record versus San Jose, with the CyberRays having won the past two meetings. The CyberRays have outscored the Beat 4-1 in the past two contests. CyberRays goalkeeper LaKeysia Beene recorded the shutout, her second of the 2003 season, in the last meeting.

Beat goalkeeper Briana Scurry and Beene have each notched two shutouts this season. Scurry is the WUSA's all-time leader in shutouts with 15, while Beene is one behind with 14.

Key matchup: Nancy Augustyniak and Sharolta Nonen versus Katia and Pretinha - The dynamic attacking duo of Katia and Pretinha were held scoreless in the Beat versus CyberRays matchup two weeks ago, but they are still as dangerous as ever, each having scored this past weekend versus Carolina. In the last meeting Augustyniak and Nonen were able to corral the Brazilians, but with so many weapons that open up the offense, the Beat duo will need to mark the CyberRays' attackers on and off the ball.

Tom Stone's quotes on rematch versus San Jose: "We are very excited to get another crack at San Jose. Whenever you don't perform as well as you hoped, you look forward to meeting that challenge again and this time it comes only 14 days after our last meeting."

"San Jose is the only team to beat us this season, so our team is looking forward to this challenge and won't need much motivation heading into this game."

"Six of the eight teams have gotten off to a good start this season and there is not a lot of room for error. Our objective is to continue getting good results to stay near the top of the standings, so that we are in striking distance of the top, towards the end of the season."

Beat 1 vs. Spirit 1, Recap - May 10, 2003

The Beat used a late Maribel Dominguez goal, her sixth of the season, to tie the San Diego Spirit. Dominguez's goal came in the 75th minute, after a great hustle play by Cindy Parlow. Parlow won a sliding tackle on the Beat's half of the field, then while on the ground passed the ball to Abby Crumpton at midfield. Crumpton took the ball at midfield and dribbled towards the Spirit goal. She slid a pass to Dominguez in the penalty area, where she was able to elude defenders and get off a shot. The shot grazed the inside of defender Lisa Krzykowski's leg and ran over the goal line. Dominguez's goal tied the game a 1-1.

The Spirit's goal came in the 67th minute when forward Julie Fleeting got on the end of a Shannon MacMillan corner kick and headed home her 4th goal of the season. The Spirit took nine corners in the contest.

The Beat's and Spirit's records remained identical at 2-1-2 and each has eight points. The all-time Beat versus Spirit series stands at 3-1-3. The Beat will face the Spirit again on May 31, in San Diego. Tom Stone's Quotes on match versus San Diego: "We played well, but we were basically scrambling. I think the game got away from us because we didn't finish our chances in the first half. The players need to relax and finish chances for us. Tonight we had to comeback from a goal down, but we did well."

"It was a pretty good effort by Cindy (Parlow) to dig out the ball. Cindy found (Abby) Crumpton, who found Maribel (Dominguez). Maribel splits the defenders and Charmaine (Hooper) puts pressure on (Jaime) Pagliarulo. It then becomes a situation of who's going to take it and Maribel put it in."

Injury Report - (Week May 12-16, 2003)
Nancy Augustyniak - probable (Concussion)
Ifeoma Dieke - probable (Left calf strain)
Nikki Serlenga - questionable (Right hip flexor strain)

Additional Notes

Beat Rookies Leading the Way

The Atlanta Beat got off to a hot start, scoring 11 goals in the first two games. The Beat has scored only two goals in the past three games, and each has come from the combination of Abby Crumpton to Maribel Dominguez, each rookies on the Beat's squad. Dominguez's six goals ties her for the league lead with Maren Meinert. She leads the Beat and the league in scoring with 14 points off six goals and two assists. Rookie forward/midfielder Abby Crumpton is the Beat's second leading scorer with two goals and two assists through five games.

Parlow and Scurry on Call with the U.S. Women's National Team - Potential Doubleheader

Atlanta Beat forward Cindy Parlow and goalkeeper Briana Scurry will spend this week in Birmingham, Alabama, training with the U.S. Women's National team in preparation for the May 17 match versus England. The Beat duo last competed with the U.S. on April 26, versus Canada. Each played 90 minutes in the match and Scurry played the Beat's match versus the Freedom immediately following the U.S. match. The U.S. will face England at 1 p.m. ET in Birmingham. If Parlow and Scurry are selected for the 18-player roster, they will suit up for the match and then immediately return to Atlanta. The Beat plays the CyberRays at 7 p.m. ET that night and the duo could potentially be able to suit up for the Beat the same evening.

Beat Leading the WUSA in Offense and Defense

Although the Beat's offensive well had dried up a little over the past three games, the Beat still leads the WUSA in goals scored. Behind an 11-goal performance in the first two games and two goals since, the Beat leads the WUSA with 13 goals, for a 2.60 goals per game average. The Beat's defense has been stellar, leading the WUSA in goals against average, at 0.60. The Beat has allowed only three goals in five games in 2003.

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Women's United Soccer Association Stories from May 12, 2003


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