Philadelphia Charge Remain Unbeaten With 0-0 Tie In Atlanta

Press Release

(ATLANTA, April 28, 2001) - The Philadelphia Charge remained undefeated and unscored upon during the inaugural season of the Women's United Soccer Association as they played to a 0-0 draw with the Atlanta Beat tonight at Bobby Dodd Stadium.

Making her first start of the young season, goalkeeper Saskia Webber registered six saves to post the shutout for Philadelphia (1-0-1), which opened the year with a 2-0 win in San Diego last Sunday. Atlanta (0-0-2) also finished with a scoreless tie last week against the New York Power.

Neither goalkeeper was seriously tested in the first half as the teams combined for just five shots on goal. Philadelphia's best chances came within a one-minute span, as Kelly Smith's 40-yard blast flew just over the crossbar during the 32nd minute and Erin Martin lined a hard shot from 30 yards away a minute later that Beat goalie Briana Scurry hauled in.

Atlanta had the first scoring opportunity of the second half when forward Cindy Parlow's header from just inside the penalty box got past Webber and bounded off the far post at the 55-minute mark. Smith answered seven minutes later with a turning shot from inside the box that sailed over the goal and Charge midfielder Liu Ailing also missed high in the 69th minute on a wide-open shot from 30 yards out.

The Beat executed a nice passing sequence in the 73rd minute that resulted in Homare Sawa missing wide right on a low line drive. In the 88th minute, Webber made a diving stop of Emily Burt's header and Scurry did the same in the 90th minute on Michelle Demko's line drive from the side.

The Charge return to action next Sunday, May 6 for their first-ever home game at Villanova Stadium. Game time is 4:05 p.m. as Philadelphia hosts Brandi Chastain and the Bay Area CyberRays.

CHARGE - Saskia Webber, Heather Mitts, Doris Fitschen, Jennifer Tietjen, Jenny Benson, Erin Martin (Deidre Enos, 72), Liu Ailing, Rebekah McDowell (Michelle Demko, 85), Lorrie Fair, Margret Olafsdottir (Laurie Schwoy, 53), Kelly Smith. TOTAL SHOTS: 10 (Fitschen, Martin, Smith 2); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5; FOULS: 16 (McDowell 3); OFFSIDE: 0; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: Webber 6; CAUTIONS: Smith 20, Demko 86.

BEAT - Briana Scurry, Kylie Bivens, Sharolta Nonen, Lisa Krzykowski, Dayna Smith, Nikki Serlenga, Julie Augustyniak (Nancy Augustyniak, 85), Homare Sawa, Nikki Lamb (Sun Wen, 46), Cindy Parlow (Charmaine Hooper, 73), Emily Burt. TOTAL SHOTS: 13 (Parlow 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 7 (Parlow 5); FOULS: 16 (J. Augustyniak 4); OFFSIDE: 6; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: Scurry 5; CAUTIONS: Bivens 86.