Beat Opens Season With 5-0 Win, Prepares for Next Match Versus Boston

Published on April 7, 2003 under Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
Atlanta Beat News Release


ATLANTA (April 7, 2003) - The Beat heads into the second week of the season in an unfamiliar position - coming off a win on opening day. The Beat had failed to win or score a goal on opening day in 2001 and 2002. The Beat's first win in each season had not come until the third game each year. The Beat used a balanced attack from the front runners to the defenders and played aggressive defense to secure the win on opening day. The Beat also got great offensive production from every area on the field, as defender Kyle Bivens notched a goal and an assist, withdrawn forward Cindy Parlow helped create two goals, and forwards Maribel Dominguez and Charmaine Hooper each got a goal and an assist.

The Beat will prepare this week for the Boston Breakers, who defeated the San Diego Spirit 2-1 on the road. The Beat and Breakers will square off on Saturday, April 12 at 4 p.m. at Herndon Stadium.

Beat vs. Breakers Preview Broadcast: PAX-TV

The Beat faces off against the Boston Breakers on Saturday, April 12 at Herndon Stadium. The Breakers are coming off of a 2-1 win over the San Diego Spirit. The Breakers dynamic scoring duo of Dagny Mellgren and Maren Meinert scored the two goals for Boston in the win.

In 2002 Mellgren and Meinert accounted for 18 goals and 18 assists. Meinert's 15 assists led the WUSA in 2002. The Breakers attack also includes U.S. National Team veteran Kristine Lilly, who anchors the midfield for Boston. Last season the Beat opened the series versus the Breakers with a 3-1 loss in Boston. The Beat then went on to defeat the Breakers in the final two games 1-0 and 3-1, both in Atlanta. The all-time series stands at 3-2-1 in favor of Atlanta.

Tom Stone Quotes on the match versus Boston: "The Boston attack involves many different personalities, with the triangle of death (Mellgren, Meinert and Lilly). There is a lot to deal with when those three come at you."

"We've got to be prepared defensively, because Boston can hurt you from different angles and they usually play well early in the season. We're going to focus on having a good week of training, so we can get a our minds set on moving to 2-0 to start the season."

Beat vs. Power Recap

The Beat got off to its best start in team history, defeating the Power 5-0 on Saturday, April 5. The Beat had opened its 2001 season with two 0-0 ties, and opened 2002 with two strait losses, 2-0 and 3-1. The Beat got an early goal from Kylie Bivens on a Leslie Gaston assist and got its second goal courtesy of a Lindsey Jones own goal. Cindy Parlow created the scoring play by shooting past Carly Smolak. Jones slid to clear the ball, but sent it into her own goal.

The Beat put the game out of reach early in the second half, when rookie forward Maribel Dominguez notched her first ever WUSA goal. The scoring play started as Charmaine Hooper received a short pass from Homare Sawa in the midfield. Hooper unleashed a 23-yard shot that Smolak got a finger on and deflected into the crossbar. The ball bounced out to the penalty area, where Dominguez met the ball and sent it past Smolak.

Hooper would get the Beat's fourth goal in the 80th minute, when she collected a loose ball in the penalty box and shot into the lower left corner from 14 yards out. The play started when rookie Abby Crumpton dribbled through the defense, only to have the ball knocked away by a defender. The ball then landed at Hooper's feet.

The final goal came in the 84th minute, this time Bivens and Dominguez hooking up with Crumpton. Dominguez started the play in the middle by gathering a loose ball and playing a penetrating ball behind the defense and down the wing to Bivens. After running by a defender Bivens sent a low cross into the center of the penalty box. Crumpton crashed in towards goal and sent the ball by Smolak.

The Beat's defense was stellar in the opening game, allowing only three shots on goal. Briana Scurry recorded her WUSA all-time best 14th shutout.

Tom Stone quotes on the Beat's opening weekend: "We couldn't' have asked for a better opening night, as far as the win and how well we played together. We got a lot of games in during the preseason and it showed."

"Our veterans came out with great leadership and played great in the opening twenty minutes. The younger players followed their lead and played well. Later in the game when we put some of the rookies in, we didn't miss a beat."

Additional Beat Notes

Beat Rookies Shine

The Atlanta Beat started the first match of 2003 with two rookies on the field, Leslie Gaston and Maribel Dominguez. Gaston, a UNC product and Dominguez, last season's W-League MVP and the Mexican National Team captain, made their WUSA debut in grand fashion on Saturday. Gaston helped lead the Beat to its first shutout of the season, starting the game at left marking back. Dominguez, started up front and notched a goal and assist in the 5-0 win. Beat forward Abby Crumpton added the 5th and final goal in the 84th minute. Five rookies played in the Beat's opening match - Dominguez, Gaston, Crumpton, Kristin Warren and Katie Antongiovanni.

Goalkeeper Briana Scurry Extends Shutout Record

Briana Scurry, the Beat and U.S. Women's National Team number one goalkeeper, recorded her 19th all-time regular season win and her 14th shutout. Scurry led the WUSA in 2002 with six shutouts and is the WUSA's all-time leader with 14.

Beat Tallies Record Day

The Atlanta Beat set and tied league and team records with the 5-0 dismantling of the Power last Saturday. The Beat recorded its all-time highest goal total. The Beat previously had scored four goals three times in team history. The Beat set a WUSA record for most goals by a single team on opening day and the largest margin of victory on opening day. The Beat tied the largest margin of victory ever in a WUSA game, winning by five. The San Diego Spirit defeated the New York Power 6-1 on April 20, 2002.

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Women's United Soccer Association Stories from April 7, 2003


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