Beat Notches Second Straight Win, 6-0 Over Boston

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


ATLANTA - The Atlanta Beat followed up its opening day 5-0 victory with a 6-0 victory on Saturday, over the Boston Breakers. Beat rookie Maribel Dominguez recorded only the 6th hat trick in league history and the first of the 2003 season. She finished the game with seven points off three goals and an assist. Midfielder Homare Sawa notched two goals of her own and rookie Abby Crumpton scored her second goal of the season. The Beat moves to 2-0-0, with 6 points.

The Breakers had the best scoring opportunity early when Maren Meinert took a shot from the left side of the penalty area that was cleared from in front of the goal by Beat defender Nancy Augustyniak in the 17th minute.

The Beat scored the first goal in the 36th minute off a superbly taken free kick from Dominguez. Beat midfielder Nikki Serlenga drew a foul in the center of the pitch, 25 yards out from the goal. Dominguez took the direct free kick and curled the shot over the wall towards the right side of the goal. The ball struck the underside of the crossbar and went in, for her second WUSA goal.

The Beat got its second goal only four minutes later from Sawa. The play began in the middle of the field as Nikki Serlenga played a pass to Hooper, who laid the ball off to Sawa. She dribbled by a Breakers defender and laced a left footed shot that struck the inside of the right post and crossed the line for her first of the 2003 season.

The Breakers out shot the Beat 7-4 in the first half, but had only two shots on goal to the Beat's three.

Dominguez opened up the second half scoring, notching her second goal of the game and third of the season off another free kick from outside of the penalty area. In a similar position on the field, Dominguez hit a free kick through the Breakers wall and into the left side of goal in the 51st minute.

The Breakers best second half scoring chance came in the 54th minute, as Angela Hucles received a pass in the penalty box. Her first shot was blocked and rebounded back to her, 12 yards from goal. Her second shot at goal, sailed high.

The Beat extended the lead to 4-0 in the 63rd minute as Sawa notched her second goal of the game and season. The scoring play began as the Breakers defense cleared a long pass out of the penalty box. Sawa and Dominguez scrambled for the loose ball, 28 yards out from goal. The ball landed at the feet of Sawa and she struck a volley into the right corner of the goal, for her 12th career WUSA goal.

Dominguez finished off the hat trick in the 67th minute, stealing a ball from defender Monica Gonzalez 35 yards from goal. She dribbled straight at the goal and by defender Kate Sobrero and unleashed a left-footed shot that sailed by Breakers goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc. The hat trick was only the 6th in league history and was the second by an Atlanta Beat player. Hooper recorded a hat trick versus the Bay Area (San Jose) CyberRays on August 9, 2001. Dominguez has recorded four goals and two assists for 10 points on the season.

Rookie forward Abby Crumpton scored the second goal of her WUSA career in the 90th minute. Dominguez dribbled at the Breakers' defense and slid a pass to Crumpton on the right side of the penalty area. Crumpton took a low hard shot towards the left post that ran under LeBlanc.

Briana Scurry faced only two shots on goal, saving each. She recorded her WUSA best 15th shutout. The Beat tied the single game record for goals scored by a team, with six and recorded the largest margin of victory in a WUSA game.

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


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