June 14 Game Preview and Beat Weekly Notes http://theatlantabeat.com/press_room/breaking_news/367467.html Big question of this game, will Bivens make the final roster for the USWNT? But it will be nice to have Nancy and Nonen back together again.
No matter who is left to play in this one the Beat must be turned loose and allowed to attack with creative spark. They have begun to become VERY predictable in their attacks so their shots are predictable so the keeper and defenders are finding it easier to get in front of the ball making it MUCH harder to score. This also makes simply putting the ball on goal harder as well. Also the shooters are finding it harder because there is a "fear of failing" creeping into their play. The defense is fine even with the problems on the right in the last game. The mids are OK but really miss Sawa for the creative pass. The Beat has a plethora of quality forwards and should be OK there as well. If Scurry is not in goal there is a question just because Wilson has not had much play BUT that is less important for keepers than it is for field players as keepers learn most in practice not in games as their activity level and number of important touches on the ball should be fairly low, or the defense is not doing its job. I have a concern about the Beat breaking out of this fear of failure mode but one thing Stone does quite well is get players to refocus after they have lost it and this is not too different. The only prediction I have for this one is that it could go either way.
Now you just sound like my old Pol system teacher, never thought I would hear the word "Plethora" again! Anyways, Melanie is an amazing Keeper and I have to say Beat practice are probalby the closest you can get to a game. Melanie will show her stuff!!!
We must take the. Thank goodness Washington lost last week. I want to be on top!!! Who will Carolina be missing?
GAME PREVIEW: Saturday, June 14, 2003 - Atlanta Beat at Carolina Courage - 7:00 p.m. (ET) - Comcast Sports Southeast (Atlanta); (Season Series: Carolina leads 1-0-0) (All-time Series History: Carolina leads 5-1-1) Atlanta had a four-game unbeaten streak snapped with a 2-1 loss to Carolina on Saturday, June 7 at Herndon Stadium. Carolina will enter this match after facing Washington in a mid-week match on Wednesday, June 11 at SAS Stadium. During the last meeting between these two clubs (June 7, 2003), forwards Birgit Prinz and Danielle Fotopoulos each found the back of the net to lead Carolina its fifth victory all-time over the Beat. Key Players to Watch: Atlanta's Maribel Dominguez (7g, 4a, 18 pts. - 2nd among WUSA scoring leaders) notched her seventh goal of the 2003 season versus Carolina on June 7. The Mexican international had a chance to tie the match during the second half but, missed a penalty kick opportunity, striking the ball high of the intended target. Forward Conny Pohlers (1g, 2a, 4 pts.) will likely fill the void left by Charmaine Hooper (Canadian national team duty). Pohlers will be looking for her first goal versus Carolina. Goalkeeper Melanie Wilson will like make her first start of the 2003 season, filling in of Briana Scurry (U.S. national team duty). Wilson holds a 0-0-1 record with a 1.00 goals against average versus Carolina all-time. Carolina's Fotopoulos (6g, 5a, 17 pts. - as of June 9, 2003) is tied with Boston's Maren Meinert as the WUSA's all-time leading scorer (73 points - 26 goals, 21 assists). "Fotop" has registered four goals and two assists all-time versus Atlanta (seven matches). Forward Birgit Prinz (5g, 2a, 12 pts. - as of June 9, 2003) scored the game-winning goal versus the Beat on June 7. Prinz has tallied two goals for four points all-time versus Atlanta (three matches). Goalkeeper Kristin Luckenbill (2-2-1, 2.00 GAA - as of June 9, 2003) recorded three saves versus Atlanta on June 7. Luckenbill holds a 4-1-1 record with a 1.00 goals against average versus Atlanta all-time (six matches). Key Matchup: (Atlanta defender Nancy Augustyniak versus Carolina forward Birgit Prinz) While both Prinz and Fotopoulos lead the Courage attack, Prinz finds open spaces very well and is one of the best players in the WUSA at going directly to goal. After sitting out this past weekend's match due to a red card suspension, Augustyniak will slide back into the central marking back position, where her speed and knack for finding the open player will be a welcomed return to the lineup. The "Inside Scoop": Carolina has won four of the last five meeting with Atlanta, including a 2-1 victory on June 7, 2003. The Courage holds a 2-1-0 record versus the Beat at SAS Stadium. Atlanta's last trip to Cary, NC resulted in a 2-1 overtime loss in the WUSA Playoffs on August 17, 2002. Five players from both teams will not be available for this match due to U.S. national team duty (Briana Scurry - Atlanta; Tiffany Roberts - Carolina; Cindy Parlow - Atlanta; Danielle Slaton - Carolina; Kylie Bivens - Atlanta). They Said it: "My hope is that we can create as many chances in this game, as we did in the first match. Hooper, Pohlers, Dominguez and Bivens all had chances that they normally would finish. We have many concerns this week. We will be without Bri, Cindy and Sawa, and three other starters will be flying in from Mexico the night before (Hooper, Dominguez, Nonen). We will have many unanswered questions when we take the field on Saturday night that we will most likely have to solve as the game progresses." - Atlanta Beat Head Coach Tom Stone on the Saturday, June 14 match versus Carolina. Referee: Michelle Tubre. Assistant Referees: Sandra Serafini, Mike Stutt. 4th Official: Kim Oberle. ROSTER REPORT INJURIES: ATLANTA BEAT- None. CAROLINA COURAGE: OUT - M Hege Riise (R ACL tear); QUESTIONABLE - M Unni Lehn (R hamstring strain); D Carla Overbeck (R calf strain); PROBABLE - D Danielle Slaton (R knee effusion). NATIONAL DUTY: ATLANTA BEAT: M Homare Sawa (Japan); F Charmaine Hooper (Canada); D Sharolta Nonen (Canada); GK Briana Scurry (USA); F Cindy Parlow (USA); D Kylie Bivens (USA). CAROLINA COURAGE: M Tiffany Roberts (USA); D Danielle Slaton (USA)
The standings are very tight and this game could change a lot in terms of position in the standings for several teams. If New York, San Diego and Carolina win we could find ourselves down towards the bottom. On the other hand, as Dr. Mike pointed out, thank goodness Washington lost and left the door open for us. We need to take advantage of the fact that the two teams ahead of us in the standings are idle this weekend.
Missing heart of lineup, Beat takes on Courage By WENDY PARKER Atlanta Journal-Constitution Staff Writer http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/beat/0603/14beat.html Nice article on Nikki, not too much on todays game. This is what the weather channel is saying for Cary today: scattered thunderstorms at 6pm 86 degrees, feels like 92 (a humid one). - At least we have our entire back line returning. And Kylie can take off down the flank again. - I expect Melanie Wilson to really shine, the last time she played against Carolina we got a draw out of it (if memory serves me right). - Lets see Charmaine scored twice last time Canada played a midweek friendly. - If we play as well as they did last week, the Beat should come out with a victory. Carolina is playing with confidence - lets knock those smiles off there faces. - We look to be short forwards this game (doh!) with Crumpton and Dominguez having to fill in for Sawa and Parlow. - I would really like to see more of Wither's this week. I hope she has about 30 minutes in her, she would be valuable to have in the air without Parlow. My possible lineup: WILSON BIVENS - NANCY - NONEN - GASTON (although Julie played well enough last week to earn a shot, maybe even as an attacking midfielder) MILLER - SERLENGA DOMINGUEZ - CRUMPTON (or Julie) HOOPER - POHLERS That leaves: Withers, Julie, Dieke, Warren, Minnax and a new name, Melinda Carter (def) on the bench. No backup keeper (according to Beat site roster). I predict a 2-1 Beat win - return the favor.
I hope Mel does her thing out there! There is a back up, Ellen Dean, she is the dev player, hopefully we still have her, but hopefully we won't need her...knocks on wood reallllllly reallllllly hard!!!
Re: Re: Beat @ Carolina II: The Whole Lot (more Beat scoring) Thread Although not explicitly stated the final roster does not include her: ============ Goalkeepers (3): LaKeysia Beene (San Jose CyberRays), Briana Scurry (Atlanta Beat); Defenders (8): Thori Bryan (San Jose CyberRays), Joy Fawcett (San Diego Spirit), Christie Pearce (New York Power), Cat Reddick (UNC), Danielle Slaton (Carolina Courage), Kate Sobrero (Boston Breakers); Midfielders (7): Lorrie Fair (Philadelphia Charge), Julie Foudy (San Diego Spirit), Angela Hucles (Boston Breakers), Kristine Lilly (Boston Breakers), Tiffany Roberts (Carolina Courage), Aly Wagner (San Diego Spirit); Forwards (5): Mia Hamm (Washington Freedom), Tiffeny Milbrett (New York Power), Heather O’Reilly (PDA Torpedoes), Cindy Parlow (Atlanta Beat), Abby Wambach (Washington Freedom). ===========================
Well, I first heard it from a media friend who gets press releases from the league and it mentioned that. Also it is in some articles today anyway.
Melanie was truly great! Pretty good game all things considered. There was a large crowd at J and J's. Fun group.
Game articles Wilson, Beat Up to Courage Challenge by Tim Nash http://theatlantabeat.com/368448.html Wilson should be our starter against this team - just a thought. Courage and Beat Battle to Scoreless Tie http://wusa.com/press_room/368450.html Starters, goals missing in scoreless tie on road By BRIAN SURETTE Special to the Journal-Constitution http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/0603/15beat.html
Beat, Courage Draw http://www.theatlantabeat.com/press_room/breaking_news/368447.html Can anyone update us on her injury? Damn...another chance to miss a PK wasted I can leave the jar at home - woohoo! Although they will probably find something wrong with that statement as well.
Mel stood out as our player of the game. Both teams missed some point blank chances and the game could have gone either way. The back line was solid again but they had problems with their clearances. The missed handball call hurt us but we had other chances that should have made the call meaningless. At least we earned an away point. Thanks to J+J for hosting us. I had a great time.