KENNESAW, GA (April 14, 2011) – The Atlanta Beat of Women’s Professional Soccer take on Sky Blue FC (NY/NJ) at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 16 at KSU Soccer in the second of three straight Atlanta home games.

The Beat went undefeated in preseason (8-0), giving up only one goal, but they suffered a tough loss to the Boston Breakers in last week’s home opener. In that match, the Beat outshot the Breakers 9-3 in the second half with all Beat attempts on goal. Despite settling into play late in the first half and throughout much of the second, the Beat were unable to come away with the result.

“I think it was a really good start for our young team,” said head coach James Galanis. “We prepared well in the pre-season, but we were unsure of where we stood at the WPS level. I knew that the team could compete but the players needed to see it for themselves. At the end of the game the players realized that they can compete at this level. That was a big psychological accomplishment for the entire team.

We lost 4-1 but played fantastic soccer for a lot of the game and had our opponent on their heels for most of the second half. Three of the goals we conceded were created from our own fixable errors. Apart from our errors we did really well. I’m proud of the team.”

Sky Blue went 4-1-0 in preseason, traveling to Turkey where they won all but one game. Against the Philadelphia Independence last week, they tied 2-2 in their New Jersey home opener.

When Sky Blue travels to Atlanta this weekend, midfielders Tobin Heath and Angie Kerr along with forward Eniola Aluko look to face their former Atlanta Beat teammates Lori Chalupny and Lauren Sesselmann. Beat defender Keeley Dowling also faces her former team, where she spent the 2009 and 2010 seasons. In total, three other current Beat players have spent at least a single season with the New Jersey club.  Sesselmann played in 2009 while midfielders India Trotter and Carli Lloyd played in 2010. Atlanta Beat defender Cat Whitehill will face her former coach, Jim Gabarra, who led the Washington Freedom during the league’s first two seasons.

All-time, the Beat are 0-2-1 against Sky Blue FC. The last time the two teams met, they finished with a 0-0 tie on Sunday, September 5 at KSU Soccer Stadium. The Beat are looking for their first home win of the season and their first result over the New Jersey club.

Tickets are still available for the match against Sky Blue FC at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 16 at KSU Soccer Stadium. Call 678-298-4780 or visit www.TheAtlantaBeat.com.

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About the Atlanta Beat
The Atlanta Beat joined Women’s Professional Soccer as one of two expansion clubs in the 2010 season. Atlanta entrepreneur T. Fitz Johnson secured the rights to the Atlanta team in September 2008 before the club officially became a WPS franchise on June 18, 2009. The Beat play all WPS home games in Kennesaw Georgia at KSU Soccer Stadium, the world’s only women’s soccer specific stadium of this magnitude. 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 WellStar
WellStar Health System is the official jersey sponsor and Healthcare provider for the Atlanta Beat of Women’s Professional Soccer. 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.