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Red Hot Beat Extends Winning Streak to Three

June 1, 2002 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
Atlanta Beat News Release


SAN DIEGO (June 1, 2002) - The Atlanta Beat had arguably its best performance of the season today, blanking the San Diego Spirit 2-0 at Torero Stadium. Charmaine Hooper notched her team leading fourth goal of the season and Homare Sawa tallied her first as the Beat extended its winning streak to three games and its unbeaten streak to four.

"Briana Scurry had a great game. Hooper and Parlow had great games," said Atlanta Beat Head Coach Tom Stone. "But it was our midfield that defined the game today. Nikki and Kylie played well together and Liping and Sawa played well together."

The Beat came out the aggressor in the first half and nearly took the lead in the 6th minute of play. Atlanta Beat center back Sharolta Nonen won the ball in the midfield and dribbled the down the left side of the field. She sent a low hard cross into the penalty area and Charmaine Hooper hit a full left footed volley on goal, but Spirit keeper Jaime Pagliarulo was able to corral the ball for the save.

Hooper would come through on the next scoring chance in the 21st minute. The play started when Nikki Serlenga won a hard tackle in the midfield. She passed the ball to Sawa who took two touches, lifted her head and played a through ball to Hooper, who had run by Spirit defender Fan Yunjie. Hooper gathered the ball and had only Pagliarulo to beat. Pagliarulo raced out and challenged Hooper. The two slid for the ball and Hooper muscled it past Pagliarulo for her fourth goal of the season.

On the play Sawa recorded her fourth assist of the season. Serlenga recorded her league leading fifth assist and fourth in as many games.

The Spirit's best first half scoring chance came in the 30th minute when midfielder Sherill Kester crossed a ball into the penalty box from 25 yards out. The Beat's defense was pushing forward allowing Spirit midfielder Lori Lindsey to sneak in behind. Kester's cross, landed right at Lindsey's feet, but her first time volley from 10 yards out went high.

The Beat had one more clear opportunity in the first half as Hooper flicked a header on to Cindy Parlow in the penalty box. Parlow was open in front of goal, but her shot went straight at Pagliarulo who made the save.

The Beat was 5-0-1 heading into the match when leading at halftime and wouldn't surrender that undefeated record as the team came out firing in the second half. Kylie Bivens created the first scoring chance when she sent a cross in front of goal that got past Pagliarulo and was headed for Sawa, but Spirit defender Shannon Boxx cleared the ball before Sawa could shoot it.

Hooper nearly had her second goal of the game in the 52nd minute as she dribbled around Pagliarulo and took an off balance shot that hit the right post and bounced back into the penalty box.

The Beat put the match away in the 74th minute on one of the team's best scoring plays of the season. Bivens created the goal from the midfield when she won the ball and passed it to Liping Wang. Bivens made an overlapping run around Liping Wang down the right side of the field. Liping Wang sent a long ball in front of Bivens, who took two touches and sent a high cross to the back post. Sawa was on the back post and shot a full right-footed volley from seven yards out that screamed past Pagliarulo.

The Beat's defense held strong throughout the second half, giving up only four shots. The only Spirit shot on goal came in the 79th minute when MacMillan hit a free kick from 22 yards out that Scurry made a fingertip save on.

The Spirit did not create another scoring chance and Beat keeper Briana Scurry recorded her league leading third shut out. She's currently tied with LaKeysia Beene for the all-time WUSA lead in shut outs with 10. The Beat's record moves to 4-3-1 with 13 points, vaulting them into second place. The Carolina Courage play the New York Power tonight and with a win can reclaim second place.

The Beat heads to New York for its next match on Sunday, June 9. The Beat tied the Power 3-3 in their last meeting on May 11. The Power came from two goals down to tie the Beat on a stoppage time goal. Next Sunday's game will be broadcast on Fox Sports Net South at 6 p.m. EDT.

Tickets for Atlanta Beat home games range in price from $8-$20 and can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling the TicketMaster number in your area. In Atlanta, call (404) 249-6400 and from outside Atlanta call 1-800-326-4000. Fans can also find a link to TicketMaster on the Beat's web site at www.theatlantabeat.com.

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