Beat Travels to New Jersey
July 16, 2010 - Women's Professional Soccer (WPS)
Atlanta Beat News Release
KENNESAW, GA (July 16, 2010) The Atlanta Beat (1-7-4) travel for the first time to Yurcak Field on the campus of Rutgers University to face Sky Blue FC (5-5-3) in the second match between these two teams this season. These clubs first met on Sunday, May 9, for the Beat's home opener, in a narrow 1-0 loss. The remaining two games in this series return to the Beat's home field at KSU Soccer Stadium.
This week's match marks the conclusion of a three-game road trip for the Beat, following a 1-1 tie against the Chicago Red Stars on Wednesday, July 7 and a heartbreaking 3-1 loss against the Boston Breakers just four days later. The Beat had several key players missing with injury and national team call-ups.
The Beat's Johanna Rasmussen is on a hot streak after scoring a first half goal in the last two matches. Her goal against the Red Stars came in the 30th minute, when she finished a rebound off Red Stars goalkeeper Jillian Loyden. Against the Boston Breakers, Rasmusen scored the quickest goal in Beat history when forward Eniola Aluko broke free in the 6th minute and created a two-on-one situation. Rasmussen finished Aluko's cross to give the Beat a 1-0 lead. The Breakers came back to score three second half goals.
Sky Blue FC enters Sunday's match without a goal in their last two games. The New Jersey club battled the Washington Freedom to a scoreless tie on July 7 and lost a 2-0 match against Chicago on July 10. The Red Stars capitalized on goals in the 38th and 48th minutes to solidify the win.
Atlanta Beat Goalkeeper Hope Solo returns to the Beat's lineup on Sunday after missing the Boston match for a US Women's National Team (USWNT) call-up. The USWNT tied Sweden 1-1 on July 13 in Omaha, Neb. at Creighton University with a rematch scheduled for Saturday, July 17, at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Conn. The most exciting matchup of Sunday's game may be between Aluko and Sky Blue FC forward Laura Kalmari. With four goals apiece this season, the two sit in a five-way tie for fifth-most goals in the league. Aluko scored all four of her goals this season with the Saint Louis Athletica before she was signed by the Beat in early June. Kalmari, too, has been scoreless since a June 6 finish against the Philadelphia Independence on June 6.
The Beat remain in seventh place in the standings while Sky Blue FC sits in third. Only one point separates Sky Blue FC from the Freedom and the Red Stars, who are tied for fourth place. The Beat have scored seven goals this season off 65 shots on goal, while Sky Blue FC has scored twelve goals off 58 shots on goal. Beat goalkeepers have made 59 saves and the team has allowed 19 goals. Sky Blue FC goalkeepers have made 75 saves, and the team has allowed 15 goals.
The Beat return home to face the Chicago Red Stars on Wednesday, July 21 at 7:30 P.M. The first 1,000 fans receive a voucher for a free size four soccer ball. For tickets, call 678.298.4780 or purchase online at www.TheAtlantaBeat.com.
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Women's Professional Soccer Stories from July 16, 2010
- First Place Pride to Host Second Place Independence Saturday, July 17 - FC Gold Pride
- WPS Commissioner's Comments on Brandi Chastain Retirement - WPS
- Beat Travels to New Jersey - Atlanta Beat
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