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Atlanta Beat Wins Third Straight, Downs Freedom
Monica Ocampo scored two second-half goals to boost the Beat past the Freedom on Wednesday night.
Jul 29, 2010 2:42:00 AM
By Giovanni Albanese Jr.
Women's Professional Soccer's logjam for the final two playoff spots just got tighter. Joining the party are the Atlanta Beat (4-7-4, 16 points) after its 3-2 win over the Washington Freedom (4-7-5, 17 points) on Wednesday night at KSU Soccer Stadium in Kennesaw, Ga.
Atlanta's win was its third consecutive and, coupled with the Chicago Red Stars 3-0 loss at Philadelphia on Wednesday, brings them just a point behind both the Red Stars and Freedom. Only three points separates third to seventh place in WPS. (Sky Blue FC is a point ahead of Chicago and Washington; Boston Breakers are a point ahead of Sky Blue.)
Johanna Rasmussen got the Beat started right with a goal in the 21st minute, hitting the upper 90 past Freedom keeper Ashlyn Harris (taking over for the injured Erin McLeod who tore her ACL on Saturday). Washington's Nikki Marshall, who has recently moved from defender to striker for Jim Gabarra's club, brought the Freedom even in the 41st minute.
Coming out of the locker room, Washington took the 2-1 lead 19 minutes into the half when Sarah Huffman knocked in an Abby Wambach cross in the 64th minute.
But Monica Ocampo put the Beat on her shoulders and brought them to victory. Three minutes after Huffman put the Freedom on top, Ocampo received a McCall Zerboni pass and equalized the game in the 67th minute.
And in the 88th minute, with time winding down, Aya Miyama sent a through ball to Ocampo who did the rest, beating Harris for the 3-2 lead.
Washington's loss extended its winless streak to nine games, having not won since May 30 (2-1 vs. Philadelphia). They will try and end that streak on Saturday night at 6 p.m. ET against the Boston Breakers on the road. Atlanta will remain home looking to earn its fourth straight win when they host the league-leading FC Gold Pride on Sunday at 5 p.m. ET.
For more on Women's Professional Soccer, visit Goal.com's WPS page and join Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page!
Atlanta's win was its third consecutive and, coupled with the Chicago Red Stars 3-0 loss at Philadelphia on Wednesday, brings them just a point behind both the Red Stars and Freedom. Only three points separates third to seventh place in WPS. (Sky Blue FC is a point ahead of Chicago and Washington; Boston Breakers are a point ahead of Sky Blue.)
Johanna Rasmussen got the Beat started right with a goal in the 21st minute, hitting the upper 90 past Freedom keeper Ashlyn Harris (taking over for the injured Erin McLeod who tore her ACL on Saturday). Washington's Nikki Marshall, who has recently moved from defender to striker for Jim Gabarra's club, brought the Freedom even in the 41st minute.
Coming out of the locker room, Washington took the 2-1 lead 19 minutes into the half when Sarah Huffman knocked in an Abby Wambach cross in the 64th minute.
But Monica Ocampo put the Beat on her shoulders and brought them to victory. Three minutes after Huffman put the Freedom on top, Ocampo received a McCall Zerboni pass and equalized the game in the 67th minute.
And in the 88th minute, with time winding down, Aya Miyama sent a through ball to Ocampo who did the rest, beating Harris for the 3-2 lead.
Washington's loss extended its winless streak to nine games, having not won since May 30 (2-1 vs. Philadelphia). They will try and end that streak on Saturday night at 6 p.m. ET against the Boston Breakers on the road. Atlanta will remain home looking to earn its fourth straight win when they host the league-leading FC Gold Pride on Sunday at 5 p.m. ET.
For more on Women's Professional Soccer, visit Goal.com's WPS page and join Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page!
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