KENNESAW, Ga. (July 3, 2010) – The Atlanta Beat (1-6-3) fell 4-0 to Gold Pride (8-3-1) Saturday night at the KSU Soccer Stadium after the Pride’s Christine Sinclair scored in the game’s first minute and Marta scored goals in both the first and second halves. The Beat’s Kia McNeill left the game early with a red card and Tina Ellertson sustained an injury to her face.

In the early moments of the game, Marta cut through the Beat defense slotting the ball to Christine Sinclair who finished the first goal of the match. Then Marta dribbled through the Atlanta Beat defense to score one of her own in the 30th.

Atlanta Beat defender Tina Ellertson and Bay Area forward Tiffeny Milbrett collided near the Beat’s defensive endline and Ellertson came up from the tackle holding her face. She returned to match to finish the first half but did not appear in the second.

Beat defender Kia McNeill came in on a 50-50 ball with Pride goalkeeper Nicole Barnhardt. The resulting call was a red card given to Kia McNeill. According referee Kari Seitz, “The red card was given to (McNeill) for serious foul play on the goalkeeper, Nicole Barnhardt of FC Gold Pride [for] exposed studs to the arm of the goalkeeper.”

Going into the half, the Bay Area led 2-0.

In the second half, the Beat started Stacy Bishop and Rebecca Nolin at centerback keeping Katie Larkin and Leigh Ann Robinson at left and right back respectively.

The Beat came close to scoring in the 70th minute when the Beat midfielder Aya Miayama capitalized on a set piece. The free kick resulted from Pride defender Ali Riley’s foul against Beast midfielder Lori Chalupny. Miyama took the strike but Gold Pride keeper Nicole Barnhart made the save.

Marta’s scored her second goal of the night in the 85th minute when she took on several players before cutting it back to make the finish. The final goal of the match came from hometown FC Gold Pride player, Kelley O’Hara who grew-up in Fayetteville, Ga. O’Hara finished a cross from Marta in stoppage time.

“I felt like we were pulling from behind and we were getting opportunities,” said O’Sullivan. “When were playing the ball to feet, it led to those opportunities.

Gold Pride led the stats in shots with 11 to the Beat’s four, and in corner kicks with 12 to the Beat’s two. There were 3,111 fans in attendance at the game.

The Beat’s next match is against the Chicago Red Stars at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill on Wednesday, July 7 at 8:30 p.m.. The team returns home on Wednesday, July 21 to host Chicago on Faith and Family Night. Post-game festivities for this match include the first ever concert at the KSU Soccer Stadium. For more information call 678-298-4780. ###

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 eight 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, eight teams will each play 24-game schedules from April 10-September 12 including six original WPS teams – Boston Breakers, Chicago Red Stars, FC Gold Pride (Bay Area), Saint Louis Athletica, 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.