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Sky Blue FC goalkeeper Karen Bardsley made 13 saves in recording her league-leading third shutout of the season.

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KENNESAW, Ga. (May 9, 2010) – Sky Blue FC (3-2-0, 9 points) spoiled the opening of KSU Soccer Stadium, the Atlanta Beat’s brand new stadium, by posting a 1-0 victory over the 2010 expansion team Sunday evening in Kennesaw, Ga. in front of 7,248 fans.

"The fan support tonight just speaks for itself," said Beat co-captain Kia McNeill.  "The crowd automatically just gave us a high. We were playing for our fans. You can see the potential in this team."

KSU Soccer Stadium is the first stadium built specifically for a WPS team and just the second soccer-specific stadium built for a women’s professional team in the U.S. since the Carolina Courage in WUSA opened SAS Soccer Park in 2002.

The 8,300-seat, $16.5 million stadium was built as a partnership between Kennesaw State University and the Atlanta Beat and includes sideline, family section, on-field and suite level seating. It also accommodates up to 16,000 patrons as a concert venue and will host the 2010 WPS All-Star Game presented by the U.S. Coast Guard on Wednesday, June 30.

The decisive goal came in the 50th minute as Sky Blue FC benefited from miscommunication between Beat defender Leigh Ann Robinson and goalkeeper Brett Maron.  Sky Blue FC midfielder Heather O'Reilly started the play by sending a cross into the 18-yard box from the right flank.  Robinson was backtracking and attempted to head the ball back for Maron to grab, but the Beat goalkeeper was off her line coming out to challenge a potential shot and Robinson’s header looped past her and into the goal to give Sky Bue FC a 1-0 advantage.

Both teams generated scoring opportunities in the first half with Atlanta’s Ramona Bachmann having the best look.  The 19-year-old Swiss forward had a breakaway in the 38th minute with only Sky Blue FC goalkeeper Karen Bardsley to beat but her shot rolled just wide of the far post.

The Beat came out strong in the second half as McCall Zerboni fired a curving shot from the top of the 18-yard box towards the left side of the goal in the 49th minute, but Bardsley dove to punch the ball out for a corner kick.

"Karen was absolutely unbelievable tonight," Sky Blue FC head coach Pauliina Miettinen said. "She made so many amazing saves and really kept us in the match. As a team, it gives you a huge confidence boost when you know that you will get such a high level of play by your goalkeeper."

The Beat almost equalized in the 62nd minute when Bachmann got behind the Sky Blue FC defense and unleashed a shot towards the right side but again Bardsley was up to the challenge, diving to punch the shot out again for another corner kick.

"Tonight was just an amazing night," Bardsley said. "From the fans to the facility itself, it was just an amazing environment."

In the 82nd minute, Bachmann created another prime scoring chance when she reached the right endline and sent a cross in front of the goal.  Second-half substitute Shelley Thompson dove to get her head on the ball, but her shot went over the crossbar.

Four minutes later the Beat won a corner kick which defender Stacy Bishop headed on goal but Bardsley stopped the shot at her feet.

"One of my biggest goals is to stay focused for 90 minutes," Bardsley stated. "Atlanta was really coming at us in the second half, and I knew that I would have to keep the switch turned on. Road wins are critical, and it's huge for you as a team when you can pick up three points on the road."

In extra time, Bardsley again stymied Bachmann slapping her shot from the top of the 18-yard box over the crossbar.  Bardsley made 13 saves in recording her league-leading third shutout of the season.

"Their keeper had a great game and made a lot of saves," said O'Sullivan.  "If we just keep creating opportunities like that, and keep playing like that, we will win a lot of games this year."

Sky Blue FC moved into second-place in the league standings with the victory while the Atlanta Beat (0-4-1, 1 point) remain in last place.

The Beat host the Washington Freedom next Sunday, May 16 at KSU Soccer Stadium in a nationally televised match on Fox Soccer Channel (6pm ET).  Sky Blue FC, meanwhile, travels to St. Louis to face the Athletica on Sunday, May 16 at 4pm ET.

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