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Regular Season Championship on the Line in Season Finale on Sunday at Herndon Stadium

August 7, 2003 - Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA)
Atlanta Beat News Release


ATLANTA (August 7, 2003) - The Atlanta Beat clinched a home field playoff game with a 1-1 tie Wednesday evening in San Jose versus the CyberRays, and will look to capture the regular season title with a win over the New York Power on Sunday. The Beat faces the Power at 6:30 p.m. at Herndon Stadium, with the game being broadcast live on CSS (Comcast Sports Southeast). The match is the regular season finale and is also Fan Appreciation Day, as many prizes will be awarded and a Fireworks Spectacular will follow the match.

The Beat is tied atop the league standings with the Boston Breakers, each with 9-4-7 records and 34 points. A win would guarantee the Beat the regular season title, due to the head-to-head tiebreaker. The Beat is 2-0-1 versus Boston this season. Boston will wrap up their regular season on Sunday at 6 p.m. ET in a match versus San Jose CyberRays.

While Boston's game could determine Atlanta's outcome in the playoff seeding, the Beat will be focused only on defeating the New York Power on Sunday. Atlanta opened the season on April 5, with a 5-0 thrashing of the Power and then tied New York 1-1 on July 26, in New York. The Beat has typically fared well in closing out the season. Atlanta defeated the CyberRays 4-0 in the season finale in 2001, behind a Charmaine Hooper hat trick. Last season the Beat defeated the Philadelphia Charge 2-0 at home, behind goals from Nikki Serlenga and Kelly Cagle.

The Washington Freedom plays the San Diego Spirit on Saturday, in a game that will determine the 3rd and 4th place finishers in the regular season. The Freedom and Spirit have split the season series, with each team winning at home.

The game is being played at Torero Stadium on Saturday, August 9, at 4 p.m. ET. The match will be broadcast live nationally on PAX-TV. After the final standings are determined, the 1st place finisher will host the 4th place team and the 2nd place finisher will host the team finishing in 3rd.

Heading into this postseason the Beat may be the heavy favorite, as Atlanta holds a 15-6-6 all-time record versus the playoff teams combined and is undefeated versus the playoff teams during this regular season. Atlanta is a combined 5-0-4 versus the Boston Breakers, San Diego Spirit and Washington Freedom this season.

Training Schedule (August 8 & 9)
Friday: 9-11 a.m., Rose Bowl Field (Ga. Tech)
Saturday: 9:30-11 a.m., Herndon Stadium
* Times are subject to change

Playoff Ticket Information - Match is scheduled for Sunday, August 17, 2003 at 6 p.m. ET Pricing for the 2003 Atlanta Beat Playoff Game will be the same as a regular season home game, as follows:

Category Price Groups 11+
Charter Club (includes Penalty Box) $45 N/A
Category I $22 $16
Category II $17 $13
Category III $10 $9

Premium reserved parking will be available to those who purchased season parking passes at the same rate, as follows: Gold Lot - $9; Purple Lot - $7; Blue Lot - $5.

Directions for training at Herndon Stadium from North of Atlanta:

>From I-75 N - Take I-75 South to Northside Drive (Exit 252). Right on Northside Drive. Follow past Georgia Dome on your left. Turn right on MLK Jr. Drive. Herndon Stadium will be on your right about one and a half miles down. Turn right on Sunset Ave, then turn right on Rhodes Street. Parking for the event will be directly behind the stadium on Rhodes St.

>From I-85 N - Take the I-85 South to the Williams St. Exit. Take the Williams St. exit and take a right at First light, Alexander St. Follow Alexander to Northside Dr. Turn left onto Northside Dr. and follow to MLK Jr. Dr. Turn right on Sunset Ave, then turn right on Rhodes Street. Parking for the event will be directly behind the stadium on Rhodes St.

>From I-75/85 S - Take I-75/85 North to International Blvd. (Exit 248C). Turn left onto International and follow to Centennial Olympic Park. Turn left on Centennial Olympic Drive and then take a left MLK Jr. Drive. Follow to Herndon Stadium, which will be on your right. Turn right on Sunset Ave, then turn right on Rhodes Street. Parking for the event will be directly behind the stadium on Rhodes St.

The Atlanta Beat is one of eight professional women's soccer teams that make up the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA), the world's premier women's soccer league. For more information call 1-877-SOCCER-1 or log onto www.theatlantabeat.com.

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