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Mariners begin August run

August 4, 2004 - USL First Division (USL-1) - Virginia Beach Mariners News Release


Virginia Beach, VA – TheVirginia Beach Mariners are trying to stay undefeated in August and continue their playoff push with a trip to Atlanta on Friday. After their win in Toronto on Monday, the Mariners are now 9-10-3 (30 points) and sit in sixth place in the Eastern Conference with six matches remaining. The Mariners are within striking distance as they are just six points behind fifth place Syracuse and eight points behind fourth place Atlanta. The Mariners’ next two matches will have a large say in their postseason hopes as they play a home and home against fourth-place Atlanta. Virginia Beach travels to Atlanta on Friday and hosts the Silverbacks on August 11.

Only thirteen points separate the top six teams in the Eastern Conference with the top four teams making the playoffs. Entering August the Mariners are undefeated in their last 4 games against the top five teams in the Eastern Conference going 4-0-0.

The Match Up

Virginia Beach (9-10-3, 30 points)

After seeing their eight-game home winning streak snapped over the weekend, the Mariners rallied to a 2-1 win at seventh-place Toronto on Monday night. It marked the first road win of the season for the Mariners, who are 8-3-0 overall at home. Of the Mariners final six games three are against possible playoff teams. Overall, the Mariners are 3-1-1 against first place Montreal, third place Rochester, and fourth place Atlanta. The team had a 0-0 draw and a 2-1 win over Montreal on May 16 and July 2; a loss and two wins over Rochester, outscoring the Rhinos 8-2 in three matches and a win over Atlanta on May 22, 2-1. The Mariners have yet to register a win against second place Richmond going 0-3-1. Entering August the Mariners have won their last three games against the top four teams in conference, and are 3-1-0 in their last 4 matches outscoring their opponents 9-3 over that time.

Dante Washington continues to lead the team in scoring, ranking second in the league in both points (28) and goals (12). He is also in the top 10 in the league in assists with 4, one behind teammates Carlos Garcia and Hamisi Amani-Dove who are tied for second in the league with 5.

The Mariners next game is Wednesday, August 11 at the Sportsplex at 7:30pm against Atlanta, gates open at 6:30pm.

Atlanta (12-6-2, 38 points)

After winning 10 straight games between May 23 and July 10 the Silverbacks are just 1-3-1 in their last 5 league games. Atlanta sits in fourth place in the conference with 38 points just 2 points ahead of fifth place Syracuse, but has played just 20 games compared to SyracuseÂ’s 21. Overall, the Silverbacks are 7-4-0 at home, outscoring opponents 20-14 in those 11 contests.

Atlanta is led on offense by Mangea (Mac) Cozier who is sixth in the league with 23 points and ranks fifth in the league with 10 goals. Former Mariner Gary Brooks is another offensive catalyst and is tied for second in the league with 5 assists. However, Brooks and Silverbacks midfielder Jordy Broder will be serving out suspensions and will be unable to play on Friday.

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