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Briana Scurry Wins WUSA Goalkeeper of the Year Award; Three Beat Stars Named to U.S. Women's Nationa

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


ATLANTA (August 19, 2003) - Accolades are coming in and may continue throughout the week, for Atlanta Beat players. Today Briana Scurry was named WUSA Goalkeeper of the Year and, along with Cindy Parlow and Kylie Bivens, was named to the U.S. Women's National Team Roster for a training camp to begin this week. With the WUSA Championship Game on Sunday, the Beat and Freedom players selected for the roster will not train with the U.S.

Scurry, the Atlanta Beat and U.S. Women's National Team goalkeeper, was today named the WUSA's Goalkeeper of the Year. A finalist in all three WUSA seasons to date, Scurry captured the title this season after leading the Beat to the team's third consecutive postseason appearance. Scurry led all WUSA goalkeepers in goals against average (0.95), shutouts (7) and save percentage (79.5). Her outstanding performance in goal was instrumental in the Beat becoming the first team to average less than one goal per game during a season (0.90).

The league's all-time leader in goals against average (1.03), winning percentage (.600) and shutouts (20), Scurry was instrumental in Atlanta clinching home-field advantage in the 2003 Playoffs. Recording 70 saves during the 2003 campaign, Scurry helped lead Atlanta to a league-best seven victories at home.

With the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup on the horizon, it appears Scurry will be the number one goalkeeper for the U.S. Women, but the national team roster is still not completely set. Bivens, Parlow and Scurry were called in for national team camp running from August 21-24 in San Diego, but each will be training with the Atlanta Beat in preparation for Founders Cup III and will not train with the U.S. this week.

The U.S. Women will train from Aug. 21-24 in San Diego, then have four days off before regrouping in Los Angeles for training at the U.S. Soccer National Training Center in Carson, Calif., from Aug. 29-Sep. 3. The team will then travel to San Jose, Calif., where the U.S. will be based from Sept. 4-7.

WUSA Awards Announcement Along with the Goalkeeper of the Year award, the WUSA today announced the Coach of the Year (Pia Sundhage, Boston Breakers), Rookie of the Year (Christine Latham, San Diego Spirit), Goal of the Year (Abby Wambach, Washington Freedom), Humanitarian of the Year (Jenny Benson, Philadelphia Charge) and Referee of the Year (Terry Vaughn). The WUSA is scheduled to tomorrow announce the Defender of the Year award, All-WUSA first and second teams, Team Fair Play award, Executive of the Year and Team Community Service award. The WUSA's Most Valuable Player will be announced on Thursday.

Founders Cup III, Sunday, August 24 - 4 p.m. EDT

The Atlanta Beat will meet the Washington Freedom on Sunday, August 24 at 4 p.m. EDT in Founders Cup III, the WUSA Championship Game. The match will be televised live on ESPN2. The Beat advanced to the inaugural Founders Cup and lost a penalty kick shootout to the Bay Area CyberRays in 2001. Last season the Freedom was defeated 3-2 by the Carolina Courage.

The Atlanta Beat is one of eight professional women's soccer teams that make up the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA), the world's premier women's soccer league. Atlanta Beat Season Tickets for the 2004 season are on sale now. For season tickets and for more information on the Atlanta Beat, call 1-877-SOCCER-1 or log onto www.theatlantabeat.com.

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