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Parlow Hat Trick Leads Beat Past Charge and Into First Place

June 22, 2003 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
Atlanta Beat News Release


ATLANTA (June 22, 2003) - The Atlanta Beat took sole possession of first place, one game into the second half of the season, after a 4-2 victory over the Philadelphia Charge on Sunday afternoon. Cindy Parlow recorded the second hat trick for a Beat player this season and the third of the WUSA season. Conny Pohlers added her second goal of the season in helping lead the Beat to victory. Melanie Hoffman opened the scoring for Philadelphia and Marinette Pichon scored her 8th goal of the season.

The Beat sits in first place with a 5-2-4 record and 19 points, two points ahead of the Boston Breakers and the Washington Freedom. The Charge sits in last place in the standings with a 3-6-2 and 11 points.

The Charge took the early lead on a superb strike by Hoffman. Pichon raced down a long ball then played a pass back to the middle of the field, where Hoffman ran through the Beat's defense. She then struck a volley into the top left corner of the goal, for her third tally of the season.

The Beat came back with a superb goal of its own, from Pohlers, in the 31st minute. Pohlers struck a loose ball from 24 yards out that flew past Charge goalkeeper Melissa Moore, into the top left corner of the goal. The Beat would take the lead 12 minutes later as Parlow notched her first of the day. After Moore could not hold onto a Pohlers shot, Parlow cleaned up the rebound from four yards out.

Pichon tied the game for Philadelphia in injury time of the first half, as she got on the end of a rebound right in front of the Beat goal. Former Beat forward, Emily Burt, redirected a cross, forcing Briana Scurry to make a save. Pichon was on the back door for the easy goal.

Parlow added her second goal of the day on a header from 10 yards out in the 53rd minute. Nikki Serlenga sent a corner kick into the middle of the penalty area for Parlow to get on the end of. The corner kick was set up by a 35-yard shot from Maribel Dominguez, that Moore was just able to get her fingertips on to direct wide.

The fourth goal of the game and third for Parlow came in the 64th minute. Serlenga sent a corner kick to the back post, where Parlow skied and headed the ball on goal. Pichon was standing on the left post and blocked the ball from going in, but Parlow buried the rebound to secure her first WUSA hat trick.

Late in the game Charge defender Jenny Benson was issued a red card on a wreckless foul on Pohlers. Benson will miss the Charge's game versus the Boston Breakers on Saturday, June 28 at Villanova Stadium. The Beat next faces the Washington Freedom on Saturday, June 28, at 7 p.m. at Herndon Stadium.

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