Charge Cool Off Beat With 3-1 Win
Published on June 29, 2002 under Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
Philadelphia Charge News Release
VILLANOVA, PA (June 29, 2002) - Marinette Pichon scored twice and Erica Iverson recorded the first goal of her career as the Philadelphia Charge defeated the Atlanta Beat, 3-1, at Villanova Stadium on Saturday night. The win keeps the Charge (8-1-3, 27pts) in a tie for first place with Carolina, while the third-place Beat (6-5-1, 19pts) fall to 0-2 against Philadelphia this season.
The Charge, who have been in first place for every day of the season, will look to defend an unbeaten home record again next weekend, when they host the New York Power on Sunday, July 7 at 7 p.m. Sunday is Powerpuff Girls Night. Call the Charge ticket office at 215-467-GOAL and ask about the team's special ticket package that includes a ticket to the upcoming Powerpuff Girls movie and a private Meet & Greet with the three Powerpuff Girls prior to the game.
A see-saw first half tilted in Philly's favor when Pichon deposited a Zhao Lihong cross in the back of the net on a header in the 34th minute for a 1-0 lead. Jenny Benson started the scoring play when she found Lihong streaking up the left flank.
The score remained 1-0 headed into halftime but the Charge quickly took control of the second half. Iverson chose the 47th minute to tally the first goal of her career in addition to her first points. Heather Mitts took a feed from fellow defender Jen Tietjen and laid a deadly accurate cross into the middle of the box where Iverson headed it past goalkeeper Briana Scurry for the eventual game-winning goal. The assist was Mitts' third in three games.
It was Pichon who put the final dagger in any possible Atlanta comeback. The French Female Athlete of the Year blasted a left-footed shot inside the post from 20 yards out to make it 3-0. Her two-goal game was the third of season for Pichon, who is now the WUSA's leading goal scorer with nine on the year.
The Beat's Sun Wen, who entered play at the start of the second half, erased Melissa Moore's bid for a shutout when she scored Atlanta's lone goal in the 80th minute. Moore, who made four saves on the contest, leads the league in wins (8), winning percentage and goals-against average (.833).
With the win, Philadelphia ran its home-unbeaten streak to 6-0-3 in its last nine games dating back to last season. The Charge are now 13-1-1 when they score first and 11-0-1 when leading at the half over the course of their franchise history.
The Charge opened their season with a 2-0 win at Atlanta and have now won both of the teams' meetings since falling 3-2 in overtime of the semifinals in the postseason last year. Philly now leads the overall series 2-1-2.
Women's United Soccer Association Stories from June 29, 2002
- Beat Falls 3-1 to the First Place Charge - Atlanta Beat
- Charge Keep Share of First - WUSA
- Courage Take Out Spirit, 3-0 - WUSA
- Courage Blanks Spirit, 3-0 - San Diego Spirit
- Charge Cool Off Beat With 3-1 Win - Philadelphia Charge
- Hamm Leads Freedom Past Power, 4-1 - WUSA
- San Jose, Boston Battle to Tie - WUSA
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