Beat Ties Courage 0-0; Wilson Records 7 Saves and First WUSA Shutout

June 14, 2003 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
Atlanta Beat News Release


ATLANTA (June 14, 2003) - After falling to the Carolina Courage 2-1 exactly one week ago, the Beat went to Cary, NC, and battled the Courage to a 0-0 tie. The Beat played without starting goalkeeper Briana Scurry and midfielder Cindy Parlow, who were on call with the U.S. Women's National Team for a friendly match versus the Republic of Ireland in Utah on Saturday night, and without Homare Sawa, on call with the Japanese National Team. The Beat moved to 4-2-4 with 16 points and now sits in a three-way tie for 2nd place with the Washington Freedom and New York Power.

The Beat went down two goals in 11 minutes versus the Carolina Courage last week, but even without Parlow, Scurry and Maribel Dominguez in the starting lineup this week, the Beat went into the first half even at 0-0. Dominguez missed the first half, while resting from a midweek contest with the Mexican Women's National Team. The Mexican women lost to Charmaine Hooper's and Sharolta Nonen's Canadian team, 4-0 on Thursday, in a friendly match in Guasave, Mexico. Dominguez, Hooper and Nonen arrived in North Carolina, from Mexico, in the wee hours of the morning Saturday.

The Beat had the best early chance, in the 8th minute, when Conny Pohlers got free in the right side of the penalty box. Kirstin Luckenbill saved Pohlers' hard shot towards the right post. The clearest Courage scoring opportunity came in the 32nd minute, when Birgit Prinz crossed the ball in front of the goal from the left side of the penalty area. Venus James, wide open in front of the goal, headed the ball wide left.

The Beat made some changes heading into the second half, putting Dominguez in the midfield for Abby Crumpton and placing Callie Withers in the midfield for Marci Miller, who suffered an ankle injury in the first half.

The Beat saw an immediate impact from the halftime substitutions, as Dominguez and Withers pushed the ball up the field early in the second half. The Beat appeared to have a scoring chance thwarted in the 60th minute when a Hooper cross was struck by Courage defender Erin Baxter's hand in the penalty area. No call was made and a Dominguez chance immediately following was saved by Luckenbill.

The Beat had a clear chance in the 90th minute, but could not connect. Dominguez lofted a ball eight yards in front of goal, where Hooper broke free of a defender. Her first time volley, from close range, sailed just over the crossbar.

The Beat's all-time record versus the Courage moves to 1-6-2 and 0-1-1 this season, although four of the Beat's five points versus Carolina have come in the last three regular season meetings. The Beat meets the Courage in the final regular season meeting on July 4, in Cary, NC. The Beat next plays on Sunday, June 22 at 4 p.m., at Herndon Stadium versus the Philadelphia Charge. It will be the first meeting this season versus the Charge. The Beat last met the Charge at Herndon Stadium on August 10, 2002, in a 2-0 Beat win.



Women's United Soccer Association Stories from June 14, 2003


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