Dieke and Pohlers Lead Atlanta to a 2-1 Victory Over Washington

Published on July 12, 2003 under Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
Atlanta Beat News Release


ATLANTA (July 12, 2003) - The Atlanta Beat got goals from two first-year players and defeated the Washington Freedom 2-1 on Saturday afternoon. Ifeoma Dieke scored her first WUSA goal and Conny Pohlers added her third, as the Beat edged the Freedom to improve to 8-3-4 on the season. Washington's only goal came from defender Jennifer Grubb. With 28 points, the Beat is in first place, six points ahead of the Boston Breakers. The Freedom currently sits at 6-5-3 with 21 points and is tied for third place, with games pending tonight.

The Beat took the lead in the 26th minute off the Dieke goal. The play began on the right side of midfield, where Nikki Serlenga sent a long cross into the penalty box. Charmaine Hooper flicked the ball toward the penalty spot, where Conny Pohlers redirected the ball to the back post. Dieke, making a late run, shot the ball into the right corner of the goal.

The Washington Freedom got the goal right back on a cracking shot from Grubb. Beat midfielder Kristin Warren was whistled for a foul 26 yards out and directly in front of the Beat's goal. Grubb stepped up to the free kick and sent a hard shot into the Beat wall. The ball bounced directly back and Grubb struck a left-footed volley into the top left corner of the goal, for her first tally of the season.

The Beat added an attacking midfielder in the second half, Abby Crumpton, and then turned up the pressure. Dieke set up the game-winning goal, when she made a quick move on a Washington Freedom defender and dribbled into the penalty box. The ball was touched away, but right to Pohlers in the penalty area. Pohlers dribbled by two defenders and sent a curling shot into the right corner of the goal, for her third tally of the season, and second game winner.

Melanie Wilson, the Beat's backup goalkeeper, made two saves in the game and recorded her fourth career victory and first of the season. Wilson was starting in goal, due to the absence of Briana Scurry, who is on call with the U.S. Women's National Team. Washington backup goalkeeper Nicci Wright made her first ever WUSA start and made some brilliant saves in the game; including two point blank saves in the first half and a sliding kick save on a Serlenga free kick in the second half.

Each team was missing key players, who were out on national team duty including, Scurry (USWNT), Cindy Parlow (USWNT), Maribel Dominguez (Mexico) and Homare Sawa (Japan), for the Beat. Washington was missing Mia Hamm (USWNT), Abby Wambach (USWNT) and Siri Mullinix (USWNT).

After dropping two to the Freedom last season, the Beat won two and tied one in the 2003 regular season. The Beat is 5-0-0 all-time versus the Freedom in Atlanta. The Beat goes on the road for a five game stretch, starting out in Philadelphia on July 16, when Atlanta faces the Philadelphia Charge at Villanova Stadium at 7 p.m. Washington next faces the San Diego Spirit on the road on Wednesday, July 16.

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Women's United Soccer Association Stories from July 12, 2003


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