 KSU Soccer Stadium will soon play host the the 2011 NCAA Division I Women’s College Cup Finals. Sixty-Four teams started the tournament and are fighting towards a spot in Kennesaw, GA. The semifinal matches will be played on December 2nd at 5 & 7:30 PM followed by the championship match on Sunday, December 4th at 1 PM.
Tickets are still available for the Women’s College Cup, with all-tournament passes that include admission to both semifinal matches and the championship game starting at 45 dollars. For ticket information visit http://ksuowls.first-sports.com/ .
Brackets are also available online here. I convinced a few of the guys in my office to fill them out for a little competition. Being that we’re all so in tune to women’s college soccer it was interesting to hear their strategies. Some went based off their football programs while others felt climate would be a better indicator. I don’t think they were familiar with the program at UNC as several opted for William & Mary over the traditional powerhouse of women’s college soccer. I personally have UCLA upsetting Stanford in the final. Then again, I also have a homer pick in UGA upsetting Duke. What can I say, I grew up a Kentucky basketball fan and make a general practice of never picking Duke to advance in any sort of bracket.
So, anyone going to the games? Who do you have winning it all on your bracket?
On Saturday, July 22nd, in the Atlanta Beat’s first home game since the end of the World Cup the fans came out in full support with a sold out KSU Soccer Stadium. The official attendance was announced at 9,345. The Beat were looking to break their 12 game winless streak against a magicJack team that was coming off short rest after taking on Western New York Flash three days prior.
Abby Wambach, of magicJack, had the first dangerous chance of the night in the opening minutes. In the 8th minute of regulation Atlanta’s Lori Chalupny took a feed from Kelly Parker but sent it just wide. It was an open game with chances on both sides. Parker had several good looks but struggled to put the ball on frame. The Beat defense played good in the first half and shut down the magicJack offense.
In the second half the game slowed down a bit as the heat started to wear on the players. With magicJack playing on a short week they settle in defensively and looked to capitalize off counter attack and set piece opportunities. Afterwards many of the National Team players talked about how difficult it’s been to prepare for these games with all that has been going on since their return from Germany.
In the 72′ minute of play Wambach was substituted off to cheers from the crowd. It was Wambach’s replacement, Lisa DeVanna, who almost put the game away in the waning minutes with a breakaway one-on-one opportunity but Atlanta Beat goalkeeper, Allison Whitworth, came up big once more stopping the shot long enough for a defender to come in and hit it out of bounds. Allison had a fantastic game and was the difference between earning a point and taking the loss. Unfortunately earning only a point wasn’t enough as the Beat fell out of contention for the final playoff spot. So the Beat won at the gate with attendance, tied in a scoreless draw, and lost their shot at the playoffs and winning the WPS Championship.
After the game Whitworth had this to say about the sold-out stadium.
“It was amazing. We want to play in front of a [full stadium] — and these are the crowds we can have in Atlanta. We want them to love what we do, love the game, and come watch good soccer.”
The fans were treated to a post-game fireworks display to help cap off the evening but the day wasn’t over. At least not for the players who remained for nearly an hour longer signing autographs and posing for pictures with their fans. Chants of “Abby, Abby, Abby” echoed through the stadium as they waited for the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup Silver Boot winner to make her way around.
With the heat, the game, the media attention, and fans clamoring I could understand the players just making an appearance and then heading off to catch their breath and start their recovery process. But they understand that they have a chance to capitalize on this energy to help the struggling Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) league gain some momentum and hopefully retain these new and reinvigorated fans.
Wambach had this to say on the topic of WPS maintaining the momentum from the recent World Cup.
“If we continue to play good soccer - the buzz is out there from the World Cup, we’ve just got to keep it alive and do our part as players by getting out into the community and as role models to keep it alive and keep the word out there.”
 The Beat host Alex Morgan and Marta of the Western New York Flash on Saturday, Aug. 6 during PUMA’s Project Pink night. The Atlanta Beat chose the American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer as their PUMA Project Pink charity of choice. Wear pink, do good: a simple request, but one that could help change the lives of women across the country. For more information on Project Pink, visit www.puma.com/projectpink .
Tickets are still available for their home finale on Aug. 6 at KSU Soccer Stadium. Call 678-298-4780 or visit www.TheAtlantaBeat.com for more information.
Do you think we’ll see another sellout? Who are you more excited to see from the Western New York Flash, Alex Morgan or Marta?
The Atlanta Beat will welcome home several stars of the Women’s World Cup this Saturday July 23rd at KSU Soccer Stadium.
WPS Women’s World Cup Heroes include:
ATLANTA BEAT: CARLI LLOYD (USA), HEATHER MITTS (USA), KELLY PARKER (Canada)
MAGICJACK: ABBY WAMBACH, HOPE SOLO, MEGAN RAPINOE, SHANNON BOXX, CHRISTIE RAMPONE, BECKY SAUERBRUNN (ALL USA)
The game starts at 7 PM but the pre-game celebration begins at 6:45 PM. In addition to the World Cup Heroes the Beat will also be recognizing local heroes from the Military, Police, and Fire & Rescue.
After the match there will be fireworks and an autograph session for the fans. Click here for tickets.
This past Wednesday when Western NY Flash took on magicJack they had over 15,000 in attendance. It’s Atlanta’s turn to show up and support women’s soccer. Do you think this could be the first sell-out game at KSU Soccer Stadium?
 The 2011 Herbalife World Football Challenge will not return to the Georgia Dome in 2011. Instead the closest venue this year will be Carter Finley Stadium, home of NC State Football, in Raleigh, NC. They will host Juventus and CD Guadalajara on July 28th at 8PM. CD Guadalajara will also take on FC Barcelona in Miami at Sun Life Stadium on August 3rd at 8PM.
Tickets and additional information is available at www.worldfootballchallenge.com
The inaugural World Football Challenge saw Club America defeat AC Milan in front of 53,600 fans at the Georgia Dome on July 22nd, 2009. This was one of the first high profile soccer games to come to Atlanta in recent years. Organizers hoped the event would help Atlanta’s bid to be a host city if the US was awarded either the 2018 or 2022 World Cup. Others hoped the game would show Atlanta’s love for soccer and worthiness of a Major League Soccer expansion team.
You may also recall last year’s Aaron’s International Soccer Challenge at the GA Dome in which Club America took on Manchester City. During the lead up the that match Aaron’s signed on as a multi-year sponsor for the event. David Simmons of International Events Group Operations said during a press conference they “planned to continue to bring this great event to [Atlanta] for many years to come.”
I have yet to receive word back from Mr. Simmons in regards to where the Aaron’s International Soccer Challenge stands. I’ll update this post if anything changes on that front.
So will you be going to either the Raleigh or Miami game? Frustrated that Atlanta wasn’t part of this year’s challenge?
I literally was sitting on the couch screaming my heart out.
So for those who missed it, our ladies ended the game 1-1 with Brazil…technically.
So what got it to that point? Well our first goal wasn’t technically our first goal. The USWNT, though in awesome position and at first glance, appeared that they scored, the ball actually was scored by Brazilian defender, Daiane, who was attempting to block the ball. But that goal set the tone for the game. The women came out strong–they wanted to beat Brazil, and knew that a weak start would lead to a weak ending.
The first half the women proved strong, keeping the Brazilians from scoring anything. Naturally this lead to much crying and dramatics as a result. They ended the first half 1-0 in favor of the U.S. with Brazil frustrated and angry.
The second half, with a few minor chances for both teams, Brazil and the USA came to play. But apparently the refs still weren’t on board, as was seen with the goal that tied the game by Brazil’s Marta.
Marta came charging into the goal with some type of samurai-karate kid kick that ended up with the U.S. getting a red card for Rachel Buehler. Watching the replay, I would have called dangerous play on Marta, but apparently the call is that Buehler took her down from behind. Whatever.
This fabulous call led to a penalty kick which awesome Hope Solo blocked….or so we thought. BUT the ref had some more tricks up her sleeves to go with all the calls she had missed or called incorrectly. Solo ‘moved off the line’ leading to another penalty kick for Brazil, which Marta decided she was going to take this time, leading to a goal for Brazil.
The result of this? The USWNT played a man down–10v11 to Brazil and still held their own. In fact, they played–in my opinion– better than they did previously.
The tie of 1-1 lead to two 15 minute overtimes that saw yet two more goals. Brazil’s goal was scored on a controversial well taken shot by Marta, the team’s all-star. Though it was questioned to be offsides, after replays it apparently was cleared as on. That gains a whatever as well. I still have to give the girl credit for an extremely well placed shot.
2-1, a few minutes left in overtime, the USWNT knew that without a goal, they were exiting Germany. With the majority of the stadium now standing behind the USWNT after the poor calls of the refs, and the Brazilian players faking injuries–you know the whole roll on the ground for five minutes to waste time, hop on a stretcher, then hop off of it to go back and play…MAGICALLY healed–the stadium was radiating. Boo’s for Marta who had just previously horse collared a player or chants of USA USA USA were pretty much the only things being heard.
After a beautiful cross from Rapinoe, Wambach crushes a epic header into the goal making the game 2-2 in overtime.
With the game 2-2 after overtime, Penalty kicks were in order. The Women crushed all five into the net, making room for them to move on to play France next!
So some after thoughts of the game?? I was a bit disappointed in Marta, well Brazil’s showing. Brazil started pulling out sly sneaky tactics that are to me are not sportsman like, especially Marta. For a player that is considered the best in the world, skill wise she was epic, but her attitude deserved a smack in the face.
I have to say as well I’m pretty proud that the ladies won. I felt that they played hard, and worked hard for this win. They didn’t give up or get down that they were one man down against a great team like Brazil, they kept fighting and held their own. And despite the NUMEROUS Cards, some of which were not called for, and the crappy reasons for random free kicks(let’s not forget the obvious hand ball by the side line ref that clearly NO ONE SAW) and the shady attempts to waste time by Brazil, the USWNT prevailed and WON THIS THING!
On Thursday the Atlanta Silverbacks made the news official that Mexican midfielder Mario Pérez would be leaving the team and returning to the Mexican Primera Division. Wednesday night, during the Silverbacks’ 2-1 victory over Montreal, the annual free-for-all known as the Primera Division draft was taking place in Playa del Carmen, just south of Cancun.
Pérez’s rights were transferred from Necaxa to Estudiantes Tecos, a team located in the Guadalajara suburb of Zapopan. Pérez will be returning to Mexico where he has not played in a league match since suiting up for Atlas on March 20, 2010.
The Mexican defender started the 2011 season with the Silverbacks and made an immediate impact. As one of the more experienced players on a young team, Pérez brought stability to the back line and his forays forward were one of the team’s best attacking options. His three assists lead Atlanta this season, and Pérez also contributed a goal in the Silverbacks’ 2-1 loss to Fort Lauderdale on April 23.
Pérez will be unavailable for Sunday’s match against FC Tampa Bay, as he has already left the team to return to Mexico and sort out the details of his transfer.
To help combat the loss of Pérez, the Atlanta front office announced on Friday the signing of Real Salt Lake forward and Star Kick spokesman Conor Chinn.
Chinn had not played for Real Salt Lake this season but did play in nine games for the New York Red Bulls in 2010, five in MLS play and four in the U.S. Open Cup, where he scored three goals.
He will also be rejoining his former college teammate, Silverbacks defender Tyler Ruthven. The two played together at the Univesity of San Francisco in 2006.
Chinn is well-known to many viewers of Fox Soccer Channel as “Nationally Ranked Conor” in a commercial for Star Kick. Chinn has also used the alias of “Amateur Player Guillermo Ortiz” in a Spanish-language version of the commercial.
The newest Atlanta Silverback will not be joining the team in time for Sunday’s game at FC Tampa Bay but looks to be ready to hit the field for his new team before the head to Puerto Rico on June 19.
The Atlanta Silverbacks Reserves claimed sole possession of first place in the NPSL Southeast Division with a 3-1 victory over the Knoxville Force on Saturday night at Atlanta Silverbacks Park.
Atlanta forward Tornubari Nyonebue scored two first-half goals, with the second being the eventual game-winner. After finally scoring his first goal of the season last weekend in a 2-1 victory at Rocket City United, Nyonebue’s two goals last night make him the Silverbacks Reserves’ leading scorer on the season.
Early goals have been the norm for Atlanta this season, with the Silverbacks Reserves usually conceding them. Saturday night, however, the opposite was the case. Nyonebue opened his account in the 5th minute, as he dribbled across the top of the box and found space between a multitude of defenders and slotted a low shot past Knoxville goalkeeper Conor Hurley.
The Force answered back in the 16th minute. Theo Yang received the ball at the top of the box with his back to the Atlanta goal. The Knoxville forward turned and unleashed a beautifully-placed right-footed shot that curled into the top corner and gave Silverbacks Reserves keeper Dave Martin no chance.
Atlanta would grab the lead just 12 minutes later as a Nyonebue pounced on a rebound and gave the Silverbacks Reserves a 2-1 halftime lead. Daniel Taylor shot from the right and the ball could not be controlled by Hurley. Nyonebue was there to clean up the mess for his second goal of the game and third of the season.
Atlanta continued to dominate for much of the second half as Martin was rarely called into duty. Silverbacks Reserves coach Ricardo Montoya’s introduction of Alaghi Toure led to more great chances, and Hurley’s goal fell once again in the 73rd minute as Toure scored his first of the season for Atlanta.
The win moves the Silverbacks Reserves into first place with 11 points from six games played, one point ahead of Chattanooga F.C. who have played one less game.
Chattanooga hosts Rocket City United next Saturday before Atlanta visits on June 25 in a game that will go a long way in deciding the winner of the NPSL Southeast Division.
It was a long time coming, but the Atlanta Silverbacks finally won their first game of the season Wednesday night, defeating the Montreal Impact 2-1 in front of 2,880 at Atlanta Silverbacks Park.
The home side took the lead in the 13th minute when Mario Perez found himself along the end line to the left of Montreal goalkeeper Bill Gaudette. Perez played the ball back to Raphael Cox at the top of the box who coolly slotted his shot past the veteran goalkeeper to put Atlanta up 1-0 early.
Cox’s goal snapped a goalless streak for the Silverbacks that ended at 508 minutes of play. In addition, it gave Atlanta their first lead at any point of any game this season, a lead they would double just over 20 minutes later.
 Jordan Davis, Raphael Cox and Matt Horth celebrate with Silverbacks fans after Cox's 13th-minute goal on Wednesday night. In the 34th minute, Gaudette received a back pass from a defender and attempted to clear the ball. Raphael Cox, however, was pressuring the Montreal keeper and forced him into an error. Cox deflected the ball towards the end line and managed to keep it in play. As he dribbled in along the end line and with Gaudette guarding his near post, Cox crossed the ball along the ground across the mouth of the goal to a streaking Matt Horth who merely had to tap the ball into the empty net for his second goal of the season.
After scoring just three goals in their first nine games, Atlanta found themselves with a two-goal advantage a little more than a third of the way into the game, sending the fans into a wild celebration.
Montreal would strike back just before halftime. Impact midfielder Idriss Ech Chergui sent in a cross from the right side. The cross found the head of Mignane Diouf inside the six-yard box and the Montreal forward headed it off the underside of the crossbar and into the net, cutting the lead to 2-1.
Both teams struggled the put many shots on goal in the second half until late. Zurab Tsiskaridze attempted a shot in the 85th minute that floated over Atlanta goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer and glanced off the crossbar and out of play.
After Impact midfielder Antonio Ribeiro was sent off in the 89th minute for a second yellow card, Ciaran O’Brien and Moussa Toure both forced Gaudette into action with a couple of long-range shots that the Montreal keeper was able to push away.
The three points moved the Silverbacks to five on the season through 10 games. Montreal remains just ahead of Atlanta in the NASL standings with eight points from nine matches.
The win was the first for the Silverbacks since defeating the Vancouver Whitecaps in Atlanta on August 5, 2008. Atlanta now travels to Florida where they will face FC Tampa Bay at Al Lang Stadium on Saturday night.
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