The Atlanta Beat Gets First Victory

Atlanta defender Tina Ellertson scored the game’s only goal as the Beat defeated the Chicatgo Red Stars, 1-0, for their first-ever Women’s Professional Soccer win in franchise history. The victory came at home at Kennesaw State University Stadium.

Mexican striker Monica Ocampo assisted on the goal, serving the ball to Ellertson, who headed it inside the far post.

“Chicago was pushing up on us so I was thinking about being offsides, and Monica did a great job of laying it in and I stepped up right in time, just wanted to put it in the corner of the net. We finally got the monkey off our back,” said Ellertson, a former U.S. WNT defender.

Atlanta held a wide 17-4 advantage over Chicago in shots, and with 10 corner kicks, earned twice the number earned by the Red Stars.
The Beat won the game with an unusual lineup due to the absence of several key players.

Atlanta were missing three players due to national team duty, Ramona Bachmann, Johanna Rasmussen and Eniola Aluko, and two players due to grassroots World Cup campaigns, Kia McNeill and Hope Solo.

“Bottom line in a team is that it’s about the team. No matter how many players were missing, it doesn’t change the fact that the Atlanta Beat came out to play today,” said Beat goalkeeper Brett Maron.

The Beat has yet to lose this year to Chicago, having drawn 0-0 in an earlier meeting.