Atlanta Soccer » Womens Professional Soccer

Atlanta Beat and WPS Suspend 2012 Season

Scott — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:45:34 +0000

In what was shaping up the be one of the most promising seasons and competitive teams the Beat had put on the field in recent years everything crashed to a grinding halt. On Monday, January 30th 2012 the league issued a statement to suspend the 2012 season citing the pending legal issues with former magicJack team owner Dan Borislow. If you are unfamiliar with the situation you can find out more by reading Beau Dure’s piece at espnW here.

Borislow was seen by many, including himself, to be the savior to the struggling league when at the 11th hour he stepped in and committed to field a team for the 2011 season. Perhaps it was in this haste that the other team owners and league officials didn’t realize the type of person they were dealing with in Borislow. They soon found out as the narcissistic owner didn’t comply with several league requirements and even had a grievance filed by players and the WPS Players Union to the league for violations of the Standard Player Contract Provision, the FIFA Code of Ethics, WPS Media Policy and U.S. Soccer Federation Coaching Requirements.

It’s unfortunate that the situation has reached this point but perhaps the WPS can settle these matters and use this time to strengthen the league and seek out additional owners for the 2013 season. However, if things go against the owners in the legal matters I would imagine the WPS will fold and possibly see the teams join other leagues or create a new league, perhaps with a single entity plan similar to Major League Soccer. Many potential owners have backed away from investing in the league because of it’s current structure.

The only solace fans can take is that with the USWNT winning the CONCACAF qualifying tournament they will be a part of the 2012 London Summer Olympics which will run between July 25th and August 9th. Because of the Olympics and the reduction in number of teams to 5 the 2012 WPS season was going to be shortest season thus far. With pre-olympic camps the USWNT players would likely only have played 9 or 10 games this season with their club teams. If you want to see women’s soccer in person you can still check out the 2011 USL W-League champion Atlanta Silverbacks. In addition to the men’s team they also field a women’s team that consistently is in contention for the championship. Their season traditionally runs from May through July.

WOMEN’S PROFESSIONAL SOCCER SUSPENDS PLAY FOR 2012 SEASON

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (January 30, 2012) – Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) announced today that its Board of Governors has voted to suspend the 2012 season to permit the League to focus on the resolution of certain pending legal issues and the challenges that now face the League as a result of its ongoing dispute with a former owner.

“We are proud of what the League has accomplished in the first three seasons, but we do recognize the necessity to resolve our existing legal and operational issues so that we can continue to support and grow WPS the right way,” said Sky Blue FC Owner Thomas Hofstetter. “This was a very difficult decision, but one we as owners feel is the best business decision for the League at this time.”

The Board voted on Monday morning to suspend the 2012 season. Over the last year the league has faced significant challenges, including a lengthy and expensive legal battle with a former owner. The litigation has diverted resources from investment in the league and has forced the Board to take action, suspending the 2012 season in order to address the legal issues head‐on before moving forward with competition.

“We firmly believe there is a place in the global sports landscape for Women’s Professional Soccer,” said WPS CEO Jennifer O’Sullivan. “Making the decision to suspend the 2012 season was a difficult and painful one, but it is necessary to take the time to address current issues and solidify our business in order to provide appropriate support needed to achieve the League’s long‐term goals. Those that take part in our League ‐ players, partners and fans ‐ deserve the best, and that is what we are taking the time to ensure we deliver when we resume play in 2013 and beyond.”

WPS has established its plans to return to play in 2013, and all five owners of the League’s existing teams ‐ Atlanta Beat, Boston Breakers, Philadelphia Independence, Sky Blue FC and Western New York Flash ‐ will remain active with the CEO, Jennifer O’Sullivan, in the governance of WPS throughout the current year.

“We are deeply grateful to our fans and partners for the tremendous support they have shown for WPS, our players and the sport,” added O’Sullivan. “With our supporters and athletes in mind, we are committed to complete the hard work necessary to resume play in 2013 and reestablish WPS as the premiere women’s professional soccer league in the world.”

So what are your thoughts concerning the 2012 season being suspended? Do you think the WPS will be back in 2013?

Atlanta Beat Welcomes Home World Cup Players

Scott — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 19:37:19 +0000

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?

Weekend Rewind

Scott — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 13:00:28 +0000

Atlanta Beat (1-6-3) vs FC Gold Pride (8-3-1) 0 : 4

After competing Wednesday in the All-Star game several players from both teams laced up their boots again to face off on Saturday. Just like the All-Star game Marta scored two against Atlanta Beat GK Hope Solo. Down early (31st second) the comeback became near impossible when Kia McNeill was given a red card for sliding into keeper Barnhart studs up. Tina Ellertson also failed to return for the second half from an early injury when Tiffeny Milbrett collided and Tina received an injury to her face. The Beat play their next home game against the Chicago Red Stars on Wednesday, July 21^st which is also Faith and Family Night. Post-game festivities will include the first ever concert at KSU Stadium.

Atlanta Silverback Women (6-1-1) vs North Virginia Majestics 4 : 1

The Silverbacks continued their winning ways with a victory over the last place Majectics. The lady Silverbacks will have their last regular season home game this Saturday, July 10^th @ 7:30 PM. They’ll take on the Charlotte Lady Eagles which is the only team to beat them this year.

FC Atlanta (0-3-1) vs Pumas FC 1 : 6

The Pumas pummeled FC Atlanta, nuff said. Last home game is Saturday, July 10^th @ 7PM in Hoskyn Stadium.

FC Atlanta Blackhawks (5-2-4) at IMG Bradenton Academics 0 : 4

Mark Magee of IMG Bradenton nets the brace in the lopsided match. IMG took 16 shots to Atlanta’s 11. Hopefully the 95 people in attendance enjoyed the show. The Blackhawks have two road games before coming back to play their last game of the season July 18^th at 6:30 PM.

Not a good weekend for most Atlanta Pro/Semi-Pro Soccer teams. The Beat are midway through their season while the regular season is wrapping up for the other teams in the next few weeks. Have you been to any games this year? If so, what game and how was the experience?

2010 WPS All-Star Game

Scott — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 02:05:23 +0000

The second annual Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) All-Star Game was held at the KSU Soccer Stadium on Wednesday, June 30, 2010. This year’s format was a major change from last year and took a fun twist as the teams were picked playground style. In this format the top 2 vote-getters were team captains and selected 11 starters for each team from among the top 22 highest vote-getters in the All-Star balloting at a pick ‘em event for fans hosted by STATS in downtown Atlanta. The team breakdown is as follows:

Marta XI (Albertin Montoya – Head Coach)

Goalkeeper: Erin McLeod (Washington Freedom)

Defenders: Allison Falk (Philadelphia Independence), Rachel Buehler (FC Gold Pride), Brittany Taylor (Sky Blue FC)

Midfielders: Kristine Lilly (Boston Breakers), Aya Miyama (Atlanta Beat), Kelly Smith (Boston Breakers), Sonia Bompastor (Washington Freedom)

Forwards: Ramona Bachmann (Atlanta Beat), Marta (FC Gold Pride), Christine Sinclair (FC Gold Pride)

Reserves: D Christie Rampone (Sky Blue FC), D Becky Sauerbrunn (Washington Freedom), F Amy Rodriguez (Philadelphia Independence), GK Erin McLeod (Washington Freedom), D Alex Scott (Boston Breakers), F Cristiane (Chicago Red Stars), GK Karen Bardsley (Sky Blue FC)

Abby XI (Paul Riley – Head Coach)

Goalkeeper: Hope Solo (Atlanta Beat)

Defenders: Amy LePeilbet (Boston Breakers), Tina Ellertson (Atlanta Beat), Cat Whitehill (Washington Freedom)

Midfielders: Lori Lindsey (Philadelphia Independence), Shannon Boxx (FC Gold Pride), Heather O’Reilly (Sky Blue FC), Lori Chalupny (Atlanta Beat)

Forwards: Eniola Aluko (Atlanta Beat), Lauren Cheney (Boston Breakers), Abby Wambach (Washington Freedom)

Reserves: M Angie Kerr (Atlanta Beat), M Karen Carney (Chicago Red Stars), F Kelley O’Hara (FC Gold Pride), M Laura Kalmari (Sky Blue FC), F Tasha Kai (Sky Blue FC), GK Jillian Loyden (Chicago Red Stars)

From the opening whistle Marta’s XI had Abby’s XI on their heels. None other than Marta got the opening goal in the 7^th minute. But she didn’t just score one goal in the 7^thminute, she scored two. This was the first game I’ve seen Marta play in person. She really is an incredible player with tremendous talent. Having just heard Thierry Henry’s comments concerning Messi’s abilities being easier to attain due to his size I can see what he means when you see the explosive maneuvers in Marta’s small frame. She has this ability to dart between players like a kid in a crowd.

Many predicted this game could have 10 goals but I couldn’t help but wonder if that might have been conservative. Things settled down to a degree and both team had several chances but just as a lull fell over the game Christine Sinclair gave team Marta another goal in the 31^stminute and got the energy flowing. Atlanta’s own Eniola Aluko got Abby’s XI on the board with a goal just 4 minutes later. That would be the last goal of the half as Marta’s XI took an early 3-1 lead.

It took a while in the second half to get things going but with Atlanta Beat’s Aluko wrapping up the first half with a goal teammate Aya Miyama decided to kick things off in the second half with a goal of her own to extend Team Marta’s lead to 3. Then moments later Lauren Cheney worked to narrow the gap and scored to bring the tally to Abby 2 - 4 Marta. But that wouldn’t last long as within minutes A-Rod scored what would be the final goal capping off the win for Team Marta with a final score of 5 – 2.

It was an entertaining game and the 4,610 on hand got their money’s worth. The 7 goal thriller was everything you could want from an All-Star game and helpfully it will help bring some additional attention to this great venue and Atlanta Beat organization. Did you attend or watch the All-Star game? If so, what were your thoughts?

WPS: Atlanta Beat v Washington Freedom

Scott — Sun, 16 May 2010 22:06:49 +0000

Final Thoughts – Atlanta continues to struggle to get goals. Two goals from six games. The league has next weekend off and hopefully Coach O’Sullivan can keep the team together and spirits up. The play seems to be improving but the goals just aren’t there. Hopefully we’ll get a status for Zerboni but she was taken to the hospital after a colision of heads for precautionary measures.

Full Time – Atlanta 0 – Washinton Freedom 2

90 min – 2 minutes to be added. Robinson with the shot but wide right.

87 min – Chants of “Let’s go Beat! Let’s go Beat!” echo through the stadium. The fans haven’t given up and neither has the team.

86 min – Set piece see’s Atlanta put it just wide again.

78 min -GK Maron receives a pass back and dribbles off to the side prior to knocking it out. Doesn’t get a good clearance and almost pays dearly as Washington knocks it just over the goal.

74 min – Atlanta continues to get chances but needs to do something to finish a few off it they want any points from this one.

68 min - Official attendance announced at 3,112 on an overcast Sunday night. No rain yet, there should have been more here.

67 min – After waiving off an offsides call the ref gives Washington a corner that’s knocked out.

63 min - GOAL!! 2 -0 Washington Wambach with a goal. Doesn’t let her broken nose slow her down. Heads down

60 min – corner for Washington, pass headed to Maron.

56 min – Mundy earns another corner. Rassmussen plays it in but the keeper intercepts.

54 min – Foul on Washington. The kick is in the box but Atlanta is call offsides.

54 min – Washington makes substitition for Gilbeau brings in Goebel.

53 min – Atlanta with a corner but nobody in the box able to do anything with it.

49 min – Foul by Thompson outside the box. Bompastor takes the kick which is headed out by Kerr.

47 min – Thompson with the best chance of the night misses wide right.

46 min – Second half underway.

Halftime – The team doesn’t seem to be connecting as well as last week. Not sure how much is due to the absence of Mami Yamaguchi who is on national team duty at Asia World Cup Qualifiers.

Halftime – Washington lead 1-0 as the game has been back and forth but the story of the season is the Beat unable to make the most of their opportunities.

45+ min – 3 minutes of extra time added.

45min – Bachmann is back on the field and almost scores.

41 min – Rassmussen takes the shot and hits the side netting.

39 min – Bompastor draws a foul outside of the box. Bachmann off the field getting medical attention. Larkin clears the ball.

35 min – Bachmann with a shot from 25 feet out.

33 min – Kerr with another shot. Wide right. Washington taking their time and slowing the pace with the early lead.

30 min – Mundy earns another corner. McLeod punches it out.

28 min – Corner Atlanta. Rasmussen cross but nobody at the backdoor.

28 min – Goal Washington 1 -0

25 min - Mundy crosses and gets a corner. Rasmussen with a corner kick and a low driven shot just outside the post.

24 min – Bompastor back on the field and seems to be okay.

22 min – Washington making the most of their chances. Maron & Wambach collide outside of the box.

12 min – Kerr with the shot

5 min – Sophia Mundy on for Zerboni

5 min – Bompastor & Zerboni knocked heads and a stretcher is out for both players.

2 min – Early chance for Bachmann but slid and lost control.

The starting lineups have been announced and kick-off is just moments away. I’ll be posting updates during the game but you’ll need to refresh to get updates.

Atlanta Starting Lineup: Maron, Zerboni, Bishop, Larkin, McNeill, Robinson, Bachmann, Kerr, Rasmussen, Cinalli, Thompson

ATL Bench: Whitworth, Ocampo, Hamm, Sesselmann, Mattern, Nolin, Lofton, Mundy

Washington Starting Lineup: McLeod, Whitehill, Marshall, Moros, Sauerbrunn, Gilbeau, Bompastor, Long, Huffman, Mykjaland, Wambach

Washington Bench: McCray, Goebel, Welsh, Singer, Abegg

Atlanta Beat v Sky Blue FC Images

Scott — Wed, 12 May 2010 03:05:35 +0000

Ramona Bachmann McCall Zerboni

: Johanna Rasmussen

I’d like to welcome a long time friend and photographer to the Atlanta Soccer Blog team. Zach Childers took all of the above photo’s and several more located at the following Flickr Photo Album. Atlanta Beat v Sky Blue FC 5-9-10

Hopefully we’ll see more from Zach here in the future but in the meantime if you want to see some of his other work, hobbies, and passion please visit www.zachchilders.com .

Let us know what you think.

KSU Soccer Stadium Grand Opening

Scott — Wed, 05 May 2010 20:34:17 +0000

After starting the season with an 0-3-1 record and losing # 1 draft pick Tobin Heath for 4-6 weeks to injury the Atlanta Beat were due for something good to happen. On Sunday, May 2^ndthe Atlanta Beat and Kennesaw State University invited everyone to the Grand Opening and ribbon cutting ceremony for the new KSU Soccer Stadium. Over 4,000 people were reported to have shown up to be a part of this incredible moment for women’s soccer and the community.

There was a real excitement in the air and it gave a glimpse of what game days will be like starting this Sunday. The Atlanta Beat takes on New Jersey’s Sky Blue FC at KSU Soccer Stadium Sunday, May 9^th @ 7:00 pm. Currently over 5,000 of the 8,300 tickets have been sold and the front office is working hard to sell the game out. If you haven’t gotten your tickets yet you can call Jessica with the Beat at (678) 298-4780.

The only other Soccer Specific Stadium I’ve been to was when I went to the MLS All-Star game at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce, CO. This stadium may be on a smaller scale but it equally as impressive. The $16.5 million, 8,300 seat stadium is in the final stages and requires only a few finishing touches to be operational. There is still work to be done on parking lots and other area’s but the field, fans, and team are all ready to go and Fox Soccer Channel will be broadcasting live to share the experience with a national television audience.

Let’s hope the stadium and the fans can give the Beat the energy and support they need to pick up their first win of the season. After spending a month on the road the Beat will spend a month at home. It should be a good game and it will definitely be a great atmosphere. I’ve added a Flickr account and attached a Photo Album from the day. Flickr Photo Album Click Here

Did you make the trip? If so, what did you think?

WPS All-Star Game comes to Atlanta!

Scott — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 03:56:24 +0000

Today the Women’s Professional Soccer league made the announcement that the Atlanta Beat’s new stadium would be home of the 2010 WPS All-Star game on Wednesday, June 30, 2010 at 7:30 including a live pregame show. The June 30th date is a day after the Mens 2010 World Cup round of 16 concludes. The All-Star date is nearly one year prior to the Womens World Cup in Germany that starts on June 26th, 2011.

“Atlanta, with its wonderful new stadium built specifically for WPS, will be a fantastic venue for our second WPS All-Star Game,” said WPS Commissioner Tonya Antonucci. “We decided to try something different this year with our format and move the date to mid-season to provide some separation from our WPS Championship. It should make for an incredible mid-summer festival of the world’s best soccer league for women.”

A total pool of 36 players will be selected in early-June as WPS All-Stars, with 22 players chosen through voting by teams, players, media and fans, and another 14 All-Star Coaches and Commissioner’s picks. The highest-voted international and domestic player will be announced as captains. All 36 players will then travel to Atlanta. In Atlanta, the two captains together with the team coaches will select the Starting XI for each team in an alternating “playground pick-em” style format during a public event in the days prior to the WPS All-Star Game.

I know these women are very self-confident but I imagine this is conguring up memories of the “playground pick-em” when someone was pick-em’d last. Thanks to WPS and Fox it will be shown live to the world and their mom and dad. That’s just wrong on an international level.

Seats to the All-Star game go on sale to the general public Saturday, May 1 at 9:00 a.m. The WPS All-Star voting will begin online in May. Could we see a Bachmann / Heath showdown?