7/31 San Diego game

[Mike Lane]

The San Diegans hate us. They'd love to be the spoiler for us. We see them twice in the next 10 days. What should our strategy be? We need the points. We got some tired and injured players. Do we put in the B team on Wed and try to win at home? I think we should play all out to win all of these next three games... and then be spoiler for Philly. It might be interesting to see us in a reprise of last night in the playoffs.

[Ludahai]

We are in a battle for playoff position and we still have a decent shot at second. Go for the points both at home and on the road. We need them. If we lose both, we open up the door for San Jose.

[flix]

Wednesday, July 31, 2002 - Atlanta Beat (9-7-1, 28 pts.) at San Diego Spirit (4-9-4, 16 pts.) - 10:00 p.m. (ET) - Cox 4 (San Diego) (Season Series: Atlanta leads 1-0-0) (All-time Series History: Atlanta leads 2-1-1)

In a must-win situation for the Spirit, San Diego will host the Atlanta Beat on Wednesday evening. A loss or a tie by San Diego will result in the Spirit being eliminated from playoff contention. Atlanta is coming off a 1-0 win over the Carolina Courage last Saturday. In the first and only meeting between these two teams in 2002, the Beat defeated the Spirit 2-0 at Torero Stadium on June 1. San Diego fell to Washington on Saturday 1-0, leaving the Spirit with no room for error.

Key Players to Watch: Atlanta's Charmaine Hooper (9g, 1a, 19 pts. - 11th among WUSA scoring leaders) recorded her league-leading sixth game-winning goal of the season with her 68th-minute score versus the Courage. Hooper, who has already tallied a goal versus the Spirit this season, is tied for fifth in goal scoring in the WUSA. The Canadian striker has scored a goal in three straight matches. Forward Emily Burt (4a, 4 pts.) is on a four-game point scoring streak and has assisted on a Hooper goal in three straight games. Homare Sawa (5g, 5a, 15 pts. - tied for 13th among WUSA scoring leaders) has nearly doubled her offensive output from last season (8 pts.). Goalkeeper Briana Scurry (7-6-1, 1.36 GAA) recorded five saves on Saturday en route to her league-leading fifth shutout of the season. San Diego's Shannon MacMillan (5g, 6a, 16 pts. - 12th among WUSA scoring leaders) has not scored since July 14 and will be looking to get on the board versus the Beat. Newcomer Julie Fleeting (2g, 1a, 5 pts.) has been a nice addition to the Spirit attack. Midfielder Julie Foudy (4g, 3a, 11 pts. - tied for 16th among WUSA scoring leaders) has already surpassed her point-scoring total from 2001 (7 pts.).


Key Matchup: (Atlanta forward Charmaine Hooper versus San Diego defender Joy Fawcett) - Fawcett will anchor a defense that must shut down the Beat's leading scorer in order to be successful. Hooper has scored in three straight matches and will be looking to make it four versus the Spirit on Wednesday. Fawcett and company will try to keep the team's playoff hopes alive by preventing Hooper from taking part in the Atlanta attack.

The "Inside Scoop": Atlanta has won three straight matches to remain in the fourth and final playoff spot. The Beat will be looking to eliminate the Spirit from the playoffs with a victory on Wednesday. San Diego is in a must win situation. A tie or a loss will result in the Spirit's elimination from playoff contention. A win for the Beat will tie the team record for consecutive victories (4).

They Said it: "We're hoping we can field eleven people that have their legs on Wednesday. We really spent ourselves in Saturday's game. It's going to be a real challenge to get across the country and have a good game on Wednesday." - Atlanta Beat Head Coach Tom Stone on San Diego.

Referee: Mark Arblaster. Referee Assistants: Kia Dehpaneh, Bryan Elliott. 4th Official: Sandra Belmont.

[flix]

INJURY REPORT
ATLANTA BEAT: PROBABLE - M Liping Wang (R knee contusion); F Sun Wen (left adductor strain); M Kylie Bivens (Plantar fascitis).

SAN DIEGO SPIRIT: QUESTIONABLE - F Zhang Ouying (pulled hamstring); GK Jaime Pagliarulo (strained knee); PROBABLE - D Fan Yunjie (pulled hamstring).

Suspension Summary 7/29/02
Tiffany Roberts Carolina Courage 7/31 vs. Washington Red Card 7/27 at Atlanta
:D just threw that one in

Warning Summary 7/29/02
Shannon Boxx San Diego Spirit 3 Non-Consecutive Yellow Cards Accumulated (A caution in the next game will result in a 1 game suspension = 4 non-consecutive cards accumulated)

[thegoofy1]

Originally posted by flix
They Said it: "We're hoping we can field eleven people that have their legs on Wednesday. We really spent ourselves in Saturday's game. It's going to be a real challenge to get across the country and have a good game on Wednesday." - Atlanta Beat Head Coach Tom Stone on San Diego.


I think this is pretty true. But San Diego is also flying back home from DC, so I'm guessing they will be pretty tired also. I think Saturday's game will pose much more of a problem.

[Mr.Soccer]

What is this injury? M Kylie Bivens (Plantar fascitis).
How serious is it? How long will she be out?

[FanOfFutbol]

Originally posted by Mr.Soccer
What is this injury? M Kylie Bivens (Plantar fascitis).
How serious is it? How long will she be out? From a web site I use from time to time:
Heel spur / plantar fasciitis affects men and women equally. It is a condition in which the bottom of the heel is extremely painful. A heel spur is a bony overgrowth on the bottom of your heel bone. The heel spur is usually a result of an inflamed ligament (plantar fascia) on the bottom of the foot that attaches to the heel bone. Constant abnormal pulling of this ligament irritates the heel bone and the body lays down a bone spur as a protective mechanism. The patient usually complains of pain with the first step in the morning, some relief following activity, but returning after extended amounts of time standing or walking.

This condition is a constellation of many causes; overweight, ill fitting shoes, bio-mechanical problems (mal-alignment of the heel), gout, pronation (a complex motion including outward rotation of the heel and inward rotation of the ankle) and rheumatoid arthritis are some of the causes of heel pain
The link is Foot Care Direct (http://www.footcaredirect.com/heel.html).

I have seen players play with this condition for years and others that seem to miss every other game.

There are effective treatments and, often, a slight condition is agravated by too long cleats on hard ground causing the foot to wobble while running. Also a bruse near the heal makes the pain MUCH worse.

[Mr.Soccer]

Thank you. Wow, it sounds like it could be really painful. I appreciated the information.
Mahalo

[Mike Lane]

I've had plantar faciitis... it can be very mild, or VERY painful. The problem is that top atheletes try to play (run) through their pain, and may exacerbate it. Stretching, NSAIDS, ice, and more stretching can help. Basically you have to lay off for a bit. The Beat has good trainers, and a woman orthopedic surgeon, and I'm sure Kylie is doing the right things.

[Kim-GoBeat!]

I think we are deep enough to counter the "tired players" thing. We can use Cromwell and Dayna Smith in the back to relieve any tired defenders... Miller, Wang or Cagle in the middle for any mids that can't make it... Burtie up top with Hooper if CP needs some rest... I think we should be fine. Using any of these players in place of our starters isn't a bad thing...these are all quality players that could possibly be starting for other clubs. We are much deeper than SD and morale is on our side. We are coming off three wins and have the playoffs in site. SD is playing for pride, which can be dangerous, but our players know of the rivalry here and they aren't gonna let SD get the better of them.

[FearM9]

From the Atlanta Journal Constitution:

Fourth-place Beat has playoffs in sight (http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/sports/beat/0702/0731beat.html)
By WENDY PARKER
Atlanta Journal-Constitution Staff Writer

[flix]

Beat Not Looking Past Spirit

Any game between the Beat and the San Diego Spirit is important, but Wednesday's match at Torero Stadium will prove especially intense. The Beat is on the verge of earning a playoff spot, and the Spirit can't lose again if it stands a chance at the post-season.

by Jennifer Pfluke
http://www.theatlantabeat.com/320818.html

[Kim-GoBeat!]

Will this game be on the WUSA's matchtracker?

[thegoofy1]

Originally posted by Kim-GoBeat!
Will this game be on the WUSA's matchtracker?

If matchtracker is working, it probably will. I really think we need to start petitioning to get audio feeds of the games.

[AB1FAN]

Originally posted by Kim-GoBeat!
Will this game be on the WUSA's matchtracker?

yes joyful joyful

[FearM9]

This match is actually gonna be televised on COX4. I wonder if any COX4 folks down there in the SoCal would be able to do a PBP? I doubt it..they'll all be at Torero.

Just a lil' reminder for some of you folks...

I'll be doing two PBP's tonight. PLEASE DO NOT GIVE THE RESULTS OF OTHER MATCHES TONIGHT!!!

[Ludahai]

Anyone know what is going on with this match? The match tracker has it in the 29th minute when it should be in the second half?

[jd6885]

doesnt look like much rest for the regulars:

From the WUSA Matchtracker:
Atlanta Beat -- Briana Scurry, Sharolta Nonen, Julie Augustyniak, Lisa Krzykowski, Nancy Augustyniak, Nikki Serlenga, Marci Miller, Sun Wen, Homare Sawa, Charmaine Hooper, Cindy Parlow.

all of them there except Kylie. Sun Wen still has that injury but I guess Stone doesn't believe that it's much of a problem now since she has recently started and played mostly through the games. Any speculations on 2nd half subs?

[jd6885]

OMG 27 fricken seconds into the 2nd half

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL HOOPS!!

[Kim-GoBeat!]

Originally posted by jd6885
Any speculations on 2nd half subs?

Burt will be in at some point... for whomever looks the most winded. Expect Cromwell to come in for which ever defender looks like they need a rest. Maybe Cagle in for someone. That's about it.