Here is a pre-game article from CyberSoccerNews: http://www.cybersoccernews.com/wusa/atlanta/030409atl-bosadv.shtml Article from the Beat site: No Looking Back for Beat By Charlie Lentz Pre-game thread in the Breaker's forum: https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=43026
http://www.wusa.com/press_room/352600.html Saturday, April 12, 2003 - Boston Breakers at Atlanta Beat - 4:00 p.m. (ET) - PAX TV (National Broadcast); (Season Series: First Meeting) (All-time Series History: Atlanta leads 3-2-1) Atlanta and Boston are both coming off impressive victories last weekend. The Beat tied the WUSA record for largest margin of victory with a 5-0 dismantling of the New York Power on Saturday, April 5. Four different Atlanta players scored a goal in the match, including newcomers Maribel Dominguez and Abby Crumpton. The Breakers recorded their first-ever season-opening win with a 2-1 victory at San Diego last Saturday. The road victory equals the season total for Boston from last season. Both squads will be looking to move to 2-0-0 while taking an early lead in the WUSA standings with a victory this weekend. Key Players to Watch: Boston forward Dagny Mellgren (1g, 2 pts.) and midfielder Maren Meinert (1g, 2pts.) continued where they left off during the 2002 season. Both international stars found the back of the net to lead the Breakers to a 2-1 victory at Torero Stadium last Saturday. Midfielder Kristine Lilly (1a, 1 pt.) extended her league-record, point-scoring streak to 11 games with her assist on Mellgren's goal in the eight minute on Saturday. The "Big 3" continue to be a vital part of Boston's offensive attack. Atlanta's Charmaine Hooper (1g, 1a, 3 pts.) helped lead the Beat to a 5-0 thrashing of the New York Power last weekend. The Canadian international continues to add to her point total as the team's all-time leading scorer (24g, 7a, 55 pts.). Atlanta newcomer Dominguez (1g, 1a, 3 pts.) made an impact in her WUSA debut. The Mexican international registered her first career WUSA goal and assist while creating havoc on the New York defense Saturday evening. Goalkeeper Briana Scurry (1-0-0, 0.00 GAA) recorded her first shutout of the season on Saturday. Scurry is currently the league's all-time leader in shutouts with 14. Key Matchup: (Boston defender Monica Gonzalez versus Atlanta forward Charmaine Hooper) Boston's Gonzalez will look to prevent Hooper from creating chances offensively in the Breakers penalty area. Hooper's physical style allows the Atlanta forward to make plays and produce scoring opportunities for her teammates. The "Inside Scoop": The all-time series between these two teams is a close one with Atlanta leading 3-2-1. The Beat holds a 2-1-0 record over the Breakers at home, outscoring Boston 4-2. The last meeting between these two teams at Herndon Stadium resulted in a 3-1 victory for the Beat. The Breakers will be looking for their first-ever victory at Herndon Stadium (0-2-0). Boston Head Coach Pia Sundhage recorded her first WUSA victory last weekend. They Said it: "The Boston attack involves many different personalities, with the triangle of death (Mellgren, Meinert and Lilly). There is a lot to deal with when those three come at you. We've got to be prepared defensively, because Boston can hurt you from different angles and they usually play well in the preseason. We're going to focus on having a good week of training, so we can get our minds set on moving to 2-0 to start the season." - Atlanta Head Coach Tom Stone on this weekend's match versus Boston. Referee: Rachel Woo. Assistant Referees: Steven Taylor, Sarah Kraus. 4th Official: Ed Barnes.
Last week I said 4-1 for the Beat but the Beat were even better and NY was even worse that I thought they would be. Boston defeated a SD team that is only a bit better than NY but they did it on the road and that counts for a lot. Boston is a MUCH better team than NY. They have a better defense and a more creative offense. I do not expect to see the stupid tackling errors by the defense that led to 3 of the Beat's goals last week. The Beat's forwards and other attacking players are exceptional but they are not as good as they looked last week. However the Beat's defense is even better than it looked as NY's sloppy play led to mental problems in concentration that resulted in a couple of NY's chances but that same sloppy play could have easily let to 7 or 8 Beat goals if the Beat were in mid season form. Nonen played the entire game last week without even one serious mistake and that bodes well for the defense as her tendency to loose concentration from time to time has been her only real weakness. Parlow at creative mid will force Boston to get conservative in the center and that could be the difference. We KNOW Scurry will save most of the best that any team sends her way. The Beat just has too much fire power with too good a defense for Boston. Even with the better play of Boston I think the final will be 3-1 for the Beat. I REALLY wish the WUSA would get it together so we could actually see most of the games. It is hard to guess or even mentally prepare to watch a game without any clue, other than stats, about the play of one or the other team.
Advantage Atlanta. She'll let 'em play. Given Boston's new agressive approach to midfield defense this could work in their favour if they can get Parlow frustrated early. If not, the continuous toll on their bodies will leave Boston with nothing left at the end. While you want to "leave everything on the field", you don't want to do it too early else another scramble like last week at Sandy Eggo.
Huh? This is the only thing you posted that I disagree with. They were awesome and it was only the first game! To say NY is a bad team and that's why our attack look so good... IMO, is a little off. We looked good because we were confident and prepared. Our attack will only improve with each game we play. I look for the Beat to lead most offensive and defensive categories all season. This is the team to watch... this is the team others need to worry about. I agree with your 3-1 final in favor of the Beat... however, if our defense stays focused... it's possible we could have another shutout. Beat scorers... Dominquez, Hooper and Parlow (she wants to get that one back from last week... look for her to be hungry for the net). WAR BEAT!!!!!!!!! THUMBS DOWN ....to the 3-4 inches of snow we got here this afternoon!! I hope this doesn't affect me driving to Atlanta this weekend for the game! I am sooooooo sick of the snow.
Kim, The reason I said that the forwards looked better last week than they really are is because of NY's non defense. The matador style of defense shown by NY would make bad forwards look good and great forwards look unstopable. (Which is what happened) If the strikes last week were at mid-season form the Beat would have had at least 8 and might have gotten to double figures. NY's defenseless defense looked that bad. A couple of times when they let an attacker go by I expected the crowd to yell "OLE". BTW: I REALLY hope that NY gets better because what they showed last week will hurt the WUSA.
I think this game will be the test of the defence for both teams; therefore, I think this game should be decided by 1 goal. Atlanta needs to watch out for the counter when they send their wing backs forward, and Boston needs to corrale the tough (and now fast) Atlanta offense. They need to keep Hooper from turning with the ball, keep Parlow's head no where near the ball, and keep track of Dominguez's slashing runs zonally. My prediction: Atlanta will get no more than 3 goals, Boston no more than 2. My head says 2-1 Atlanta but my heart says 3-0 for the Beat.
Weather forecast: Sunny and game time temps low 70's. Game forecast: Same starting lineup as last week with one exception Julie in for Gaston. I agree, this will be a defensive challenge for both teams. Serlenga and Miller have to step up again for the Beat to be successful - they are the "glue." I also think our offense (forwards, attacking mids and flank backs) had a great game last week. They held the ball, possessed with smart passing, served into the box, and made some great runs up the sidelines. Even with the the 6' Aussie, NY gives up 3-4 goals last week, (maybe she puts a body on Parlow and prevents her from taking down Smolak on the first goal). But to put things in perpective - it was NY with a new and incomplete defensive back. Looking forward, from what I read, Boston gave up some shots - 15 total, 9 on goal. The Beat had 11 shots on goal last week (and we know how many they converted). LeBlanc could be busy again this weekend. The Beat defense gave up 3 shots on goal last week (although their two best shots were just off the mark). On paper it appears ATL has the advantage. If Tom has prepared his team as well as he, and staff, did last week...if they stay focused...if Kylie & Julie (or Effy or Gaston) make those runs up the sides...if Maribel maintains that engery level...and most importantly Serlenga and Miller control and possess...then Boston 1 - Atlanta 3. CP redeems herself with two, and you pick the third - Hooper, Sawa, Dominguez, Bivens, Serlenga, Crumpton, Effy, Burt, Pohlers, Julie ???
One thing: After re-watching last week's game I believe that Sawa played one of the worst games she has had in a Beat uniform. If we can dominate like we did with our primary play maker having a bad game what will happen when she is on form? I am going to stick with my 3-1 forecast but if Sawa turns it on it could be more.
A Bostonian's view from CyberSoccerNews: Breakers Upbeat Can Boston break the Beat's rhythm after they beat up New York? by Nat Alderman
Actually it will be Bri. After totally dominating the game with Bri making 3 or 4 WONDERFUL saves in a brief lack of concentration Hooper scores an own goal off a Boston corner. 2 mins later Hooper is fouled in the box goving the Beat a PK. She runs the length of the field and drags Bri to the spot. After some argument Bri aggrees to take the kick, She steps to the spot and hits it right down the center... But with such force that the ball and the keeper end up in the net. The keeper is revived and helped off the field but is not hut badly.
Very good imagination Fan of, but don't think that would happen. I'm going to say Beat 2, Breakers 1. We'll be facing a much better offense and defense, and an experienced keeper. Although we each have a game under our belts and we have home field, it will be a tough game. We'll also have to keep our heads. Remember last season, Marci got a red card for chopping down Meinert.
Starting 11 Scurry Bivens Nancy Nonen Julie Miller Sawa Serlenga Parlow Dominguez Hooper Pohlers for Dominguez Gaston for Julie Dieke for Miller
really Marci got red carded b/c the ref deicided it was time she took controll it didn't work. And Kylie had fouled people worse before and AFTER that!!!
That's WUSA THUGS, thank you very much! Yeah she looked pretty slow, blowing by 2 NY defenders and beating Smolak and a sliding Boxx to score a goal - no mistake about it that was Parlow's goal. And their defense will need protection... I didn't see Whalen on the pitch that night?!
LMAO!!!!!! 'Tis true! Whalen would piss herself if Hooper made another run at her! I think we should all email the guy that wrote that article and let him know we prefer the term "thugs" not "bullies". I think the jerk-off has a chip on his shoulder.
Shots will be raining on Boston all afternoon with a temporary let-up at halftime. Expect high winds as Atlanta blows by Boston en route to another Beat victory.
We play the game hard but you can't tell be that Kelly Smith or Whinerschnitzel are any worse than we are. The most flagrant foul in WUSA history is still Foudy's foul on Sawa in year 1. Of course they won't card Foudy because she is on the board. I think Parlow earned the first league red card for retaliating against Foudy. We are just misunderstood. ;-)
Yeah all of you come to the game if you can and help support the Beat! Make Herndon look good in front of national TV. That Carolina-Washington game was a good one, but attendance sucked.
Yea and come and say "Hi" to me,unless you are Joe and Bonnie, because you 2 make more people come to my booth which makes me more busy and then I can't say "Hi" I'm joking big bro and B, come please.