Beat Looks to Clinch Playoff Berth on Wednesday

Published on August 5, 2002 under Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
Atlanta Beat News Release


ATLANTA (Monday, August 05, 2002) - WUSA Playoff Picture Almost Complete With only 2 games remaining in the 2002 WUSA regular season, the Beat sits in the battle for the final playoff berth, as three of the four spots have already been locked up. Going into the 18th and final week of the season, the Beat is in 4th place with 31 points - just 3 points ahead of the 5th place San Jose CyberRays - needing to earn 3 points to guarantee a playoff berth.

After going 4-1-0 in its last five games, the Beat goes into the final week of the regular season where they'll face the Spirit and the Charge at home at Herndon Stadium.

The Atlanta Beat's four-game winning streak ended Sunday afternoon as the team fell 3-2 to the Washington Freedom on a hot and humid day at RFK Stadium. The win gave the Freedom the third playoff spot in the WUSA post season. A win in one of the Beat's final two games clinches the fourth and final spot for Atlanta, or a tie and a San Jose CyberRays tie or loss will also clinch the spot for the Beat.

The Beat took the lead in the 13th minute after Freedom goalkeeper Erin Fahey sent a long goal kick towards midfield. Beat midfielder Marci Miller jumped and headed the ball down the field right into the stride of Charmaine Hooper, who dribbled into the penalty area and struck a left-footed shot into the lower right corner of the goal. The goal was Hooper's 11th of the season and extended her goal scoring streak to five games, matching a league best set by Katia of San Jose and Birgit Prinz of Carolina.

Behind the play of Hamm and Makinen, the Freedom began to mount an attack in the second half that put the Beat's defense under pressure. Hamm notched her 7th goal of the season in the 58th minute, tying the game 1-1.

Although the Beat kept up the attack, Atlanta could not find the back of the net and in the 75th minute the Freedom took the lead off a Hamm corner kick headed in by Bai Jie. The Beat came back with a goal from Parlow in the 77th minute. The scoring play began when Freedom defender Casey Zimny gave the ball up to Hooper on the right wing. Hooper sent a high cross into the penalty box for Parlow, who jumped above Skylar Little and headed in the tying goal, also her 5th of the season.

The game was tied 2-2 heading into stoppage time. The referee added an additional two minutes to the end of the second half and the Freedom would use it to score the game winner, off of another Hamm corner kick. The Beat gave up a corner kick on the right side of the field. Hamm stepped to the corner and sent a high ball into the center of the penalty area. The Freedom attackers raced forward and Pu Wei skied above the Beat defense and headed the ball into the top left corner of the goal. The final whistle blew just moments after the goal. The Freedom snapped the Beat's four game winning streak and more importantly clinched the third playoff spot in the WUSA.

Tom Stone Quotes on Match versus the Freedom: "Today's game was one of the best games I've ever seen in this league. The quality of soccer that was displayed here today really shows how far this league has come in two seasons."

"Mia played really well and I think when she goes out there, her teammates don't want to let her down, so they respond and play better for her."

"I'm proud of our team for fighting and playing well down the stretch. Five weeks ago people were counting us out, but we responded and had four wins in a row and are still in control of our own destiny."

Beat 4, Spirit 1
Atlanta Beat (10-7-1, 31 pts) vs. San Diego Spirit (4-10-4, 16 pts)
Wednesday, July 31, 2002
Torero Stadium - San Diego, CA

The Atlanta Beat extended its winning streak to four games on Wednesday night with a 4-1 win over the San Diego Spirit. San Diego opened the scoring with a goal from Scottish star Julie Fleeting, but the Beat came back with four unanswered goals.

Sun Wen scored the Beat's first goal and then Homare Sawa scored two and Charmaine Hooper one, as the Beat improved its record to 10-7-1 with 31 points. The Beat closed the month of July with a 4-2-0 record and was in 4th place, only four points out of first place with three games remaining. San Diego would grab the lead in the 18th minute off a Fleeting goal. Julie Foudy played a pass up the middle of the field for Jen Mascaro, who flicked the ball by the Beat defense. Fleeting was alone on the back post and hit a right-footed shot into the left corner of the goal.

The Spirit's lead only lasted six minutes as the Beat came back with a goal from Sun Wen. The goal was Sun Wen's fourth of the season. Atlanta then took the lead in the 34th minute on a Sawa goal, her 6th of the season. With the Beat ahead 2-1 the Spirit was still very in much in the game, but the Beat extended its lead to 3-1 in the 46th minute on a Charmaine Hooper goal, assisted by Parlow and Sawa. The goal was Hooper's team leading 10th goal of the season and her fourth in as many games.

The Beat would hold off the Spirit attack and would put the final nail in the coffin in the 72nd minute as Sawa notched her second goal of the game. The goal was Sawa's seventh of the season and second in the game. Sawa has notched five goals in the month of May. The win extended the Beat's current winning streak to four games, tying a team best achieved earlier in the 2002 season.

Week 18 Preview
Atlanta Beat (10-8-1, 31 pts) vs. San Diego Spirit (4-11-4, 16 pts)
Wednesday, August 7, 2002: 7 p.m. EST
Atlanta Broadcast: No Atlanta Broadcast
All-time Regular Season Series record (Atlanta Beat 3-1-1)
Key Players Out: None

The Beat meets the Spirit on Wednesday, August 7 with an opportunity to clinch the 4th and final WUSA playoff spot. The Beat equaled its best-ever offensive performance on July 31, the last time they met the Spirit, winning 4-1 and tying the season series at one win a piece.

Homare Sawa recorded her most productive game in the WUSA on July 31, scoring two goals and adding an assist to help the Beat defeat San Diego. Sun Wen and Charmaine Hooper also notched goals in the win. For Hooper, the goal versus San Diego in the last meeting extended her scoring streak to four games and gave her 10 goals on the season. Hooper is the only Beat player to notch 10 goals in a season, but Sawa is right on her tail, as she finished the month of July with seven goals, four more than she had all of last season.

Beat goalkeeper Briana Scurry has also played a major role in both wins over the Spirit. In the first meeting of the year, Scurry earned one of her league leading five shutouts on the year. Then in last week's match, Scurry notched another victory recording six saves including the deflection of a point-blank volley from Joy Fawcett.

Julie Fleeting notched the Spirit's only goal in the 4-1 loss and played admirably on a team, which at the time, had little hope of making it to the playoffs. The loss to Atlanta eliminated the Spirit from playoff contention, but San Diego will not fold, instead they will be looking to end the season on a positive note and possibly will be the spoiler of one team's season.

Head Coach Tom Stone quotes on upcoming match versus the Spirit:

"We're going to go out Wednesday and give it our best and hopefully come out with a victory at home."

"What I like about our team is that we haven't given up. When people have gotten down on us or when we've had a challenge we've responded every time."

"I don't know how San Diego is going to come into the game. I think they gave it their all last Wednesday and we were able to defeat them in that game, so I think we can do it again."

Atlanta Beat (10-8-1, 31 pts) vs. Philadelphia Charge (11-3-5, 38, pts)
Saturday, August 10, 4pm
Atlanta / National Broadcast: PAX-TV

The beat meets the Philadelphia Charge on Saturday, August 10, in the final-regular season match for both teams. The Charge has spent most of the season at or neat the top of the WUSA standings, thanks to the early season play of forward Kelly Smith and the emergence of French international Marinette Pichon.

Smith, who suffered a season-ending injury in the eighth week, had four goals and three assists in only seven games played. Pichon took the offensive reins from Smith and has notched 13 goals and one assist for 27 points and is among the favorites for WUSA MVP honors. The Charge's defense, led by defender Heather Mitts and goalkeeper Melissa Moore, has also ranked among the top two or three teams throughout the season.

The Beat and the Charge are closing the season in the same location that each started it - Atlanta, for opening night on April 13, when the Charge defeated the Beat 2-0 behind goals from Smith and Zhang Ouying. That first game forebode the tone of each team's season: the Charge rattled off three more victories before losing its first game, and the Beat went 1-3-1 before going on a four-game winning streak.

The Beat went into the second match versus the Charge, played on June 29, with a 6-4-1 record, while the Charge had a 7-1-3 record. In that match, Philadelphia dominated as Pichon notched two goals and Erica Iverson scored her first ever WUSA goal to build a 3-0 lead. Late in the game Sun Wen came off the bench to score Atlanta's only goal. That loss began a three-game slide for Atlanta, but the Beat rebounded and won four in a row after the skid.

To succeed versus the Charge, the Beat will have to counter Philadelphia's potent offense with solid defense. The Charge ranks among the best in the league in goals scored and in fewest goals allowed. Beat defenders Nancy Augustyniak and Sharolta Nonen will have to use their speed to keep Pichon from creating scoring chances. Beat leading scorer Charmaine Hooper and midfielders Nikki Serlenga and Homare Sawa will have to create and finish scoring chances if the Beat hopes to win.

Atlanta Beat Training Schedule:
Tuesday, August 6: 9:30-10:30 a.m. Herndon Stadium
Thursday, August 8: TBD
Friday, August 9: 9:30-10:30 a.m. Herndon Stadium
Times are subject to change.

For members of the media wishing to attend practice or wishing to set up individual interviews, please contact Lee Kallman at 404-269-7357 or Stephen Rodriguez at 404-441-3030.

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Women's United Soccer Association Stories from August 5, 2002


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