Beat to Face CyberRays and Power on the Road

Published on July 9, 2002 under Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
Atlanta Beat News Release


Week in Review

Beat 1, Freedom 2
Atlanta Beat (6-6-1, 19 pts) vs. Washington Freedom (6-5-3, 21 pts)
Wednesday, July 3, 2002
RFK Stadium - Washington D.C.

The Atlanta Beat went into Washington having defeated the Freedom in every prior meeting, holding a 4-0-0 all-time record versus Mia's club. The game started out in favor of the Beat as Atlanta had early scoring chances including defender Amanda Cromwell's free kick that hit the crossbar in the 4th minute.

In the 8th minute a nice give and go lead to Charmaine Hooper being pulled down in the penalty area by Freedom defender Jennifer Grubb. Hooper stepped up to the penalty spot and shot the ball towards the left corner of the goal. Freedom keeper Erin Fahey dove to her right and made the save.

Only three minutes later the Freedom notched the game's first goal when Emmy Barr headed in an Anne Makinen cross from five yards out. The Freedom extended the lead to 2-0 in the 19th minute when Bai Jie headed in a Barr cross for her second goal of the season.

The Beat's only goal came in the second half, courtesy of Freedom defender Steffi Jones. Beat midfielder Nikki Serlenga sent in a low hard cross and Jones tried to clear it, but ended up redirecting the ball over Fahey's head and into the net for an own goal.

The loss was the first ever for the Beat versus the Freedom. The Beat dropped one spot down to 4th place in the WUSA standings, with a record of 6-6-1 and 19 points. The Freedom jumped a spot into third place with a record of 6-5-3 and 21 points.

Tom Stone Quotes on Match versus the Freedom: "Washington is one of the teams that has as many big bodies as we have, and they did a great job of getting on the ends of crosses and putting the ball away."

Game Previews

Atlanta Beat (6-6-1, 19 pts) vs. San Jose CyberRays (5-5-3, 18 pts)
Wednesday July 10, 10 p.m. EST
Atlanta Broadcast: No Atlanta Broadcast
All-time Regular Season Series record (Atlanta Beat 4-0-1)
Key Players Out: Charmaine Hooper (yellow card accumulation)

The Beat and CyberRays face off Wednesday night in the teams final regular season meeting of 2002. The Beat has defeated San Jose in both meetings in 2002 with the score of 2-1. In the last meeting Charmaine Hooper notched the game's first goal and recorded an assist on Cindy Parlow's game winner to give the Beat a 2-0 lead. Tisha Venturini-Hoch notched the CyberRays only goal in the game. With the win the Beat continued its regular season dominance over San Jose. The Beat holds a 4-0-1 all-time regular season record versus the CyberRays.

The CyberRays sit in 5th place in the WUSA standings only one point behind the Beat. With a win the Beat can jump back up one spot to third place in the WUSA standings.

Key matchup: Beat defender Nancy Augustyniak versus CyberRays forward Katia. Katia ranks in the top ten in the league in scoring with eight goals and one assist for 17 points. Nancy Augustyniak will have her hands full as she has to mark the CyberRays leading scorer and provide play down the right flank for the Beat.

Tom Stone Quotes on Match versus the CyberRays:

"Both teams play well on the road and at home. All of our games with San Jose have been fairly similar regardless of the venue."

"San Jose seems to always bring out the best in our team." "For us to succeed, you have to disrupt their rhythm a little bit and make sure you always know where Sissi is. You also can't man-mark Katia, you have to defend her by committee, and you have to say your prayers that they don't score five."

Atlanta Beat (6-6-1, 19 pts) vs. New York Power (2-11-1, 7 pts)
Saturday July 13, 4 p.m. EST
National Broadcast: PAX-TV
All-time Regular Season Series Record: 3-0-2
Key Players Out: None

The Beat and Power meet on national television on Saturday in the final regular season meeting between the two. The Power is in the midst of a seven game losing streak and is looking to turn the ship around. The Beat is hoping to use this match to climb up the standings in search of a playoff spot. The Beat defeated the Power 2-0 in the last meeting on June 9 at Mitchel Athletic Complex. Charmaine Hooper and Cindy Parlow notched the goals in the win. Briana Scurry recorded a shutout in the win.

The Beat and Power played to a 3-3 tie in the first meeting on May 11 in Atlanta. The Beat jumped out to a 3-1 lead and gave up two goals in the final five minutes in the tie.

Key matchup: Beat defender Sharolta Nonen versus Power forward Tiffeny Milbrett. Milbrett, the reigning league MVP continues to be one of the most dangerous forwards in the league. Milbrett uses her speed and pure finishing skill to wreak havoc on opposing defenses. Nonen is one of the fastest defenders in the league and she and Milbrett have had some great battles in the past. Nonen will have to be her sharpest to contain Milbrett and the Power.

Injury update:

Sun Wen - Probable (left adductor strain)

Atlanta Beat Training Schedule:

The Atlanta Beat will travel to directly from San Jose to New York on Thursday, July 11 and will have a light training session on Friday, July 12 at Mitchel Athletic Complex at 11 a.m.

Atlanta Beat Notes:

Parlow to Participate in this Week's WUSA.Com Chat Atlanta forward Cindy Parlow will be the featured guest on this week's WUSA.com live web chat on Tuesday, July 9. The chat will begin at 8:00 p.m. (ET) and will last approximately 40 minutes. Parlow will be on hand to answer fan questions. Fans can submit questions before and during the chat. For more information, log on to www.WUSA.com.

Five Beat Stars Called Up to U.S. and Canadian National Teams

Atlanta Beat forward Cindy Parlow, defender Kylie Bivens and goalkeeper Briana Scurry have been called up by U.S. Women's National Team Head Coach April Heinrichs, to face international rival Norway on July 21 in Blaine, Minn. Beat forward Charmaine Hooper and defender Sharolta Nonen have been called up by the Canadian National Team to face Norway on July 17 in Etobicoke, ON.

Beat hits the road for two-game stretch - holds undefeated record over both clubs

The Atlanta Beat holds a 4-0-1 regular season record versus the CyberRays and a 3-0-2 record versus the New York Power, the two teams Atlanta will face later this week. The Beat technically has never been defeated by the CyberRays, as last year's Founders Cup officially goes down as a tie. The CyberRays won a penalty kick shootout to win the Inaugural WUSA Championship. The Beat has outscored the CyberRays 10-3 in five regular season meetings.

The Beat holds a similar mark versus the Power as Atlanta has never been defeated, holding a 3-0-2 record over the New York club. The teams tied their first meeting in 2001 and tied the first meeting in 2002. The Beat has outscored the Power 10-4 in five regular season meetings.

Hooper to Sit Out for Card Accumulation

Beat forward and leading scorer Charmaine Hooper received her fourth yellow card of the season in the Beat's 2-1 loss to the Washington Freedom. League rules state that a player receiving four yellow cards in nonconsecutive matches is required to sit out one match, so Hooper will miss the Beat's match versus the CyberRays on Wednesday night.

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Women's United Soccer Association Stories from July 9, 2002


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