KENNESAW, GA (June 23, 2010) – The Atlanta Beat (1-5-3) tied their third match with the Philadelphia Independence (5-3-3) on June 23 in front of 2,632 fans.

Prior to Wednesday’s match, the Beat were 0-1-1 against the Independence after two meetings in Philadelphia.

Mami Yamaguchi scored the first goal of the match in the 14th minute with help from McCall Zerboni, who is credited with the assist. Zerboni made a quick run up the side of the field, cut-back, megged a defender and crossed the ball low along the sixth for Yamaguchi to strike a line-drive inside low near post.

Amy Rodriguez scored Philly’s first goal in the 35th minute. The goal was the product of a messy situation inside the box, in which Rodriguez fought for possession and struck a high, looping ball. The ball had already crossed the line and Beat defender Stacy Bishop went in for a last minute save.

The second Independence goal was an own goal in the 48th minute. Beat defender Bishop came in to clear a ball near the six when it hit the front of her shin went over the head of a diving Hope Solo into the goal.

The Beat trailed the Independence going into halftime 2-1, and the match was scoreless until stoppage time. The Beat’s equalizer came in the first of two minutes on an own-goal by Philadelphia. WPS All-Star Tina Ellertson battled an Independence defender to finish a diving header and the tying game at two apiece. The Beat outshot the Independence 8-3.

"It just looked like America today, where it looked like we weren’t going to get one and we got one at the decks, which was maybe symbolic of America’s goal earlier today in the World Cup," said Beat Coach Gareth O'Sullivan.

"Atlanta played well. Everyone wants to win at their home. We really didn’t deserve the win tonight. Atlanta came and scored that last goal and they deserved the win," said Independence Coach Paul Riley.

Up next, the Beat will host the WPS All-Star game on at 8:00 PM on June 30 at the KSU Soccer Stadium. The Beat’s regular season will resume on July 3 when the Beat take on first-place FC Gold Pride at home. Kickoff is at 7:00 p.m.

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.