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Beat Prepares for Busy Week with All-Star Game and Match Versus Charge

June 16, 2003 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
Atlanta Beat News Release


ATLANTA (June 16, 2003) - The Atlanta Beat followed up a loss to the Courage with a tie versus the same team on the road in Cary, NC. The Beat sits in second place, only one point behind the Boston Breakers, and will prepare this week for the WUSA All-Star game on Thursday and the first 2003 meeting versus the Charge on Sunday. Six Beat players and the Beat coaching staff will be representing Atlanta at the All-Star game on Thursday, June 19, at 7:30 p.m. The match will be televised live on ESPN2.

Atlanta Beat vs. Philadelphia Charge Preview - Sunday, June 22, 4 p.m. ET, - Herndon Stadium

The Atlanta Beat and Philadelphia Charge meet for the first time this season on Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m. The Beat and Charge come into the game on opposite ends of the tables, as Atlanta has a 4-2-4 record and sits only one point out of first place. The Charge, with a 3-5-2 record, is in last place in the standings.

The Beat is coming off a 0-0 tie versus the Carolina Courage, who prior to Saturday's game had won two straight including a 2-1 win over Atlanta. The Charge, after starting 0-4-0, have lost only one game since, going 3-1-2 in their last six matches. The Charge defeated the San Diego Spirit 2-0 on Saturday and has not allowed a goal in two games.

The regular season series between Atlanta and Philadelphia stands at 2-2-2, the edge going to Atlanta with a 1-0-0 playoff record versus the Charge. The Beat and Charge have had some memorable games, including the 2001 WUSA semifinals in which the Beat came from two goals down to win the game 3-2 on a Cindy Parlow golden-goal in overtime. The Beat and Charge played in an exciting 1-1 tie in 2001 in which two late red cards were issued. The last meeting between the teams was on August 10, 2002, a 2-0 Beat win, which clinched a playoff berth for Atlanta. Nikki Serlenga scored one of the goals of the year, a 40-yard blast, which proved to be the game winner.

Key matchup: Charmaine Hooper vs. Heather Mitts - Charmaine Hooper's four-game point scoring streak came to an end last Saturday, but she'll be looking to get back on track versus Philadelphia. She's tied for the league lead in assists, and is geared up and ready for the second half of the season. Heather Mitts, one of the promising young players in the league, will look to shut down Hooper and company. Mitts has helped lead the Charge defense to two straight shutouts. The Charge defense has allowed only one goal in the last three games.

Tom Stone's quotes on All-Star game:

Coach Stone on whether he gains any advantage by coaching players that are typically the opponent: "I'm not going to learn anything that'll help me coach against anyone, no one's going to give away their fatal flaws. However you are going to learn a lot about what makes players tick. I'm excited about getting to know more of the great personalities in the league."

Coach Stone on insights he'll provide the WUSA World Stars on getting the ball past Briana Scurry: "Pray. Pray a lot!"

Beat 0, Courage 0 - Game Recap - June 14, 2003 Playing without three starters and with three starters on limited rest, the Atlanta Beat traveled to Carolina and shut down one of the league's hottest teams and scoring tandems. The Beat played without starting goalkeeper Briana Scurry and starting midfielders Cindy Parlow and Homare Sawa, who were all on call with their respective national teams. Charmaine Hooper, Sharolta Nonen, Maribel Dominguez and Kylie Bivens, were playing on limited rest, as they all arrived in the wee hours of the morning Saturday, after playing and training with their national teams during the week.

Melanie Wilson started in goal for the Beat and performed admirably, stopping seven Carolina shots and commanding the penalty box. She earned her first WUSA shutout. Both Atlanta and Carolina failed on early chances and went into the half tied 0-0.

The Beat came out with more fire in the second half and the substitution of Dominguez in the game at the half added some spark to the Beat's attack. Each team pressed forward looking for the go-ahead goal, but defense would dominate this game. In the closing minutes, Atlanta had one of the game's clearest chances, as Dominguez fed Hooper in the penalty box, but Hooper's volley from six yards out sailed just over the crossbar. A late Carolina free kick was the last scoring chance of the game, but Wilson was up to the task and thwarted the threat.

Tom Stone's Quotes on match versus Carolina: "We played much better defense tonight and did it with seven first year players. Our young players were superb tonight."

"We played against one of the hottest teams in the league tonight, with a number of players missing, and came away with a point. We're not thrilled to have not gotten a win, but we realize the point helps us and doesn't necessarily help Carolina."

"The way Melanie played tonight was the way she's trained all season - solidly, professionally and ready for every challenge. I'm very proud of Melanie and happy for her. The team played well for her and that's a tribute to Mel and how much her teammates care about her."

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Women's United Soccer Association Stories from June 16, 2003


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