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Beat Prepares for Sunday Match Versus the Boston Breakers

May 19, 2003 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
Atlanta Beat News Release


ATLANTA (May 19, 2003) - The Atlanta Beat will prepare this week for only its second road game of 2003. The Beat is coming off of a 1-0 win over the San Jose CyberRays and will travel up to Boston this weekend to face the Boston Breakers in the second meeting between the teams in 2003. The Beat and Breakers are tied for second place with 11 points, although the Beat has played one game less and leads Boston in goal differential. The Breakers will be looking to avenge the 6-0 drubbing they were handed by Atlanta on April 12.

Atlanta Beat vs. Boston Breakers Preview - Sunday, May 25, 7 p.m. Nickerson Field - BOSTON The Atlanta Beat faces the Boston Breakers on Sunday night in Boston, in a rematch of the 6-0 Beat win on April 12. The Beat and the Breakers are currently tied for second place in the WUSA standings, with 11 points, although the Breakers have played one more game. Boston is coming off of a 1-1 tie with San Diego on Sunday, and is 3-2-2 with 11 points on the season. The Beat, who had not won since the April 12 game versus Boston, snapped a three-game winless streak by defeating San Jose 1-0 on Saturday, May 17. Atlanta improved its record to 3-1-2 for 11 points.

In the last meeting, the Beat pounded the Breakers 6-0, with rookie forward Maribel Dominguez recording seven points in the game, on three goals and one assist. With the performance, Dominguez tied a league record for most points in a game, previously held solely by Liu Ailing, formerly of the Philadelphia Charge. Homare Sawa added two goals and Abby Crumpton tallied the final goal.

The Breakers will undoubtedly be looking to bounce back from the early season loss, and will be tough to defeat at home. Boston was unbeaten in ten home games in 2002, recording a 5-0-5 record. The Beat has recorded a 1-1-1 record versus Boston at Nickerson field, but holds the lead in the all-time series at 4-2-1; Currently Atlanta's Maribel Dominguez and Boston's Maren Meinert are the league's leading scorers, as both have tallied six goals and two assists for 14 points.

The matchup will be a tough road test for Atlanta, as the Breakers have a great attacking trio of Meinert, Dagny Mellgren and Kristine Lilly. The Breakers will have to face the league's number one defense. Atlanta has allowed only three goals in six games thus far. Beat goalkeeper Briana Scurry leads the league with a 0.50 goals-against-average and three shutouts.

Key matchup: Charmaine Hooper versus Kate Sobrero - Atlanta Beat forward Charmaine Hooper has seen some success versus the Breakers, tallying two goals and two assists versus the Breakers in seven regular season meetings. She notched one assist versus Boston in the last meeting and if given touches in or near the Breakers penalty area, will always be a threat. Sobrero, a veteran U.S. Women's National Team member, will have the daunting task of facing off with Hooper and the other Beat frontrunners. Sobrero leads the Breakers defense and is always present on the opposing team's attacking efforts. Her leadership and experience will have to shine through if the Breakers are going to avenge their early season loss.

Tom Stone's quotes on rematch versus Boston: "The first thing you are forced to consider when playing Boston away is their tremendous record when they play at home. Then, of course, you have to be concerned about their offense and how to deal with the variety of attacking personalities they possess."

"Our defense has been outstanding, but Boston always pushes us to the limit. I am sure they have been looking forward to this game after what happened in Atlanta in our first meeting. We are also looking forward to it, because we've been a good road team in the past and playing Boston always commands our full attention."

"The loss of Bivens could be a factor if we let it, but we have some very eager players looking for their chance to show us what they can do. So we'll see who wins the spot over the course of this week."

Beat 1 vs. CyberRays 0, Recap - May 17, 2003 The Beat avenged its May 3, 1-0 loss to the CyberRays, defeating San Jose by the same score. The lone goal of the match came in the 7th minute from Beat forward Conny Pohlers. The goal was the first of Pohlers' WUSA career

Goalkeeper Briana Scurry, who sent a long free kick forward to Charmaine Hooper, who then flicked the ball to Pohlers, started the scoring play. After racing by a defender, Pohlers lifted a shot over and past CyberRays keeper LaKeysia Beene, from 19 yards out. A double assist was awarded to Hooper and Scurry. For Hooper, it was her fourth the season and Scurry's first, also the second in her WUSA career.

The game was full of emotion, as the first half produced five cautions and 16 fouls. In the 36th minute, Beat defender Kylie Bivens was given her second caution of the match for a reckless foul against Brandi Chastain. The Beat went on to play the final 54 minutes of the game with only 10 players.

The Beat's defense held the CyberRays to only one shot on goal, which was easily saved by Scurry. The Beat improved the team's 2003 regular season record to 3-1-2 with 11 points and improved its all-time regular season record versus San Jose to 5-2-1. The two teams are set to square off for the third and final time in the regular season on August 6, in San Jose.

Tom Stone's Quotes on match versus San Jose: "We have a history with San Jose and it seems as though we meet up whenever there is something on the line. There is no telling how many goals would have been scored tonight if we hadn't had a player ejected. We wanted to keep going forward, but we also couldn't leave San Jose exposed."

"Consistency is key in the league. We don't obsess with the standings, but you have to stay near the top because if you drop, then this league is not very forgiving."

Atlanta Beat Training Schedule (May 20 - May 23, 2003):
Tuesday - 10:00 - 11:45 a.m., Rose Bowl Field (Turf field) at Georgia Tech
Wednesday - 10:00 - 12:00 p.m., Rose Bowl Field at Georgia Tech
Thursday - 10:00 - 11:30 a.m., Rose Bowl Field at Georgia Tech Friday - 9:30-11:30 a.m., TBD

Times are subject to change. Practice is open to the media and for those 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.

Injury Report - (Week May 19-24, 2003)
Nikki Serlenga - questionable (Right hip flexor strain)

Additional Notes

Parlow Pulls Double Duty - Records 4 Goals in 6-0 U.S. Win and Helps Lead Atlanta to Victory

Atlanta Beat forward Cindy Parlow played in two matches on Saturday, the first in Birmingham, Alabama, where the U.S. Women's National Team faced England in an exhibition match at Legion Field. Parlow, playing in the midfield for the U.S. notched four goals in a 14-minute span. Parlow now has scored 61 goals in her WUSA career and she surpassed Shannon MacMillan for 5th all-time in goals scored for the U.S. women. Parlow played 58 minutes for the U.S. women and after being subbed out in the second half, traveled back to Atlanta for the Beat's match versus the San Jose CyberRays. Parlow was subbed into the Beat's match in the second half and made some excellent defensive plays in helping the Beat defeat the CyberRays 1-0. Parlow logged 32 minutes for the Beat in the win.

Scurry Notches Third Shutout of 2003 and 16th All-Time

Atlanta's defense in 2003 has been stellar, allowing only three goals through six games played. The Beat's back line has protected the goal from opposing offenses, but when the occasional ball gets through, Beat and U.S. goalkeeper Briana Scurry is there to stop them. Scurry leads the league in shutouts with three and is the all-time leader in the WUSA with 16. Scurry also leads the league in save percentage (86.4%), as she's faced 22 shots on goal, saving 19.

Midfielder Callie Withers Placed on 16-Player Active Roster; Emily Burt Waived by Atlanta

The end of last week saw Atlanta's roster shuffle around, with the Beat adding 2003 first round draft selection, Callie Withers, to the active roster. Withers had been on "collegiate deferred" status, while she was finishing her senior year at Stanford University. Withers was the Beat's first selection, 5th overall, in the 2003 WUSA draft. To make room on the active roster, the Beat waived two-year Beat member, Emily Burt. A forward, also from Stanford University, Burt played in 32 matches, starting 12, for Atlanta. She tallied two goals and seven assists, for 10 points in her time with the Beat.

Additionally, Beat reserve midfielder Katie Antongiovanni was released from the roster and has accepted a developmental player spot with the San Jose CyberRays.

Antongiovanni was the Beat's 4th selection, 21st overall in the 2003 WUSA draft, out of the University of Denver.

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Women's United Soccer Association Stories from May 19, 2003


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