KENNESAW, GA (June 4, 2010) – The Atlanta Beat (0-5-1) travels to Chicago to take on the Chicago Red Stars (2-4-1) for the first time this season on Sunday, June 6 at 6:00PM ET in Bridgeview, IL.

The Beat comes into Sunday’s game with a revamped roster, capitalizing on free agents from the Saint Louis Athletica. The Beat’s new assets include goalkeeper Hope Solo, defender Tina Ellertson, forward Eniola Aluko, plus midfielders Lori Chalupny and Carolyn Blank.

Blank who also signed with the Beat on June 1 (pending league approval) was selected 45th overall by the Saint Louis Athletica in the 2010 WPS Draft. As a product of the West Virginia University and a native of Toms River, NJ, she has so far started and played in six games this season with one goal scored.

In the face of the Athletica’s dissolution last week, the Beat scheduled an exhibition match with the W-League team, the Tampa Bay Hellenic, on May 29. The match ended in a 1-1 draw and was highlighted with the first goal scored by the Beat in its new home stadium. The Beat out-shot the Hellenic 30-1 that night and Rebecca Nolin, a four-year starter at Kennesaw State University, had the finish.

The Red Stars enter this match off of a momentous upset of the first-place FC Gold Pride. WPS Player of the Week Kosovare Asllani scored the only goal of the May 29 match, her first. The match was also the second shutout recorded for Red Stars goalkeeper, Jill Loyden. Gold Pride outshot the Red Stars 14-13, but the Asllani was able to finish the game-winning score in the 55th minute. The Red Stars have had their share of changes this season. On May 26, former head coach Emma Hayes was relieved from her duties and was immediately replaced by team president and general manager, Marcia McDermott. Chicago named Omid Namazi head coach Thursday, June 3.

Both teams come into Sunday’s match with their share of struggles. The Beat has scored one goal in May, (Nolin’s goal on May 29). The Red Stars are 5th in the WPS standings, while the Beat are 7th. The Beat have outshot their opponents 77- 65 and Beat goalkeepers, excluding Solo, have accumulated 28 saves. The Beat have two goals scored and the Red Stars have four. The Beat are two shots on goal above Chicago at 38 to 36, and both teams are nearly evenly matched in goalkeepers’ saves.

Sunday’s kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 PM ET and will be broadcast live on Fox Soccer Channel.

INJURY REPORT:
Below are statements from Atlanta Beat GM Shawn McGee updating the status of specific players and their injuries.

Forward Monica Ocampo
Injury: lower leg bruise sustained in exhibition game against Tampa Bay Hellenic (5/29/10)
Statement: Monica has a lower right leg contusion and is currently day to day. We expect her to be back at training either later this week or early next week.

Midfielder McCall Zerboni
Injury: Concussion after head to head collision with Washington Freedom’s Sonia Bompastor (5/16/10)
Statement: McCall Zerboni: McCall is back on the field practicing. We fully expect her to play this weekend.

Midfielder Sophia Mundy
Injury: Sprained knee against Washington Freedom (5/16/10)
Statement: Sophia has a sprained knee and we are monitoring the situation closely.

Midfielder Tobin Heath
Injury: Sprained ankle against FC Gold Pride on (4/24/10)
Statement: Tobin has a season-ending ankle injury that requires surgery to repair some ligaments. We felt it important to make sure Tobin had this surgery now, instead of trying to make it to the end of the season, as we full expect Tobin to be a part of the next year’s US National Team World Cup squad. In addition, we know Tobin will be an impact player on this team and in this league, so we are looking at the long term rather than trying to just get Tobin through this season with a possibility of her reinjuring her ankle anytime. We wish her the best and can’t wait for her to get back on the field and at 100 percent.

Defender Manya Makoski
Injury: Tore ACL during first week of training camp in early March
Statement: Manya had a successful ACL surgery and is currently rehabbing. She is working hard every day to regain her strength and flexibility. We look forward to having her return to the field next season.



About the Atlanta Beat
The Atlanta Beat joins Women’s Professional Soccer as one of two expansion teams in the 2010 season. Atlanta entrepreneur Fitz Johnson secured the rights to the Atlanta team in September 2008 before naming Shawn McGee as General Manager and Gareth O’Sullivan as Head Coach in the summer of the following year. On June 18, 2009, the Atlanta Beat officially became the ninth franchise in WPS as Johnson, McGee, WPS Commissioner Tonya Antonucci and former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin unveiled the team name, logo and colors. The Beat acquired its first official players through the 2009 WPS Expansion Draft and 2009 International Draft in mid-September before completing its roster with the 2010 WPS Draft in January. Atlanta’s new team takes on the same name as the market’s former Women’s United Soccer Association club which was the only WUSA team to reach the playoffs in every season. The Beat's colors are Ferrari Red, Championship Gold, and Black.

About Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS)
Headquartered in San Francisco, Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) is the world’s premier soccer league for women with seven teams across the United States featuring the best players from around the world. WPS completed its inaugural season in August 2009 as Sky Blue FC of New Jersey became the first-ever WPS Champions. In 2010, seven teams will each play 24-game schedules from April 10-September 12 including five original WPS teams – Boston Breakers, Chicago Red Stars, FC Gold Pride (Bay Area), Sky Blue FC (NJ/NY) and Washington Freedom – and two expansion teams Atlanta Beat and Philadelphia Independence. The top four finishers in the regular season will qualify for the 2010 WPS Playoffs scheduled for September 19-26. For more information, visit the WPS official website at www.womensprosoccer.com or follow all the news at www.twitter.com/womensprosoccer.

About Well Star
WellStar Health System is the official jersey sponsor and Healthcare provider for the Atlanta Beat’s inaugural season. WellStar, a not-for-profit health system, includes Cobb, Douglas, Kennestone, Paulding and Windy Hill hospitals; WellStar Physicians Group; Urgent Care Centers; Health Place; Homecare; Hospice; Atherton Place; Paulding Nursing Center; and WellStar Foundation. For more information, call 770-956-STAR or visit www.wellstar.org.