2010 Atlanta Beat season explained

Club:Atlanta Beat
Season:2010
League:WPS
Chrtitle:Owner
Chairman:Fitz Johnson
Mgrtitle:Head coach
Manager:Gareth O'Sullivan, James Galanis
Stadium:KSU Soccer Stadium
League Result:7th
Cup1:Playoffs
Cup1 Result:Did not qualify
League Topscorer:Eniola Aluko (6)
Season Topscorer:Eniola Aluko (6)
Highest Attendance:7,248 (May 9 vs. NJ)
Lowest Attendance:2,267 (Sept. 1 vs. BOS)
Average Attendance:3,690
Largest Win:1 goal (5 matches)
Largest Loss:1–6 (Aug. 28 vs. BAY)
Pattern B1:_whitecollar
Leftarm1:FF9E00
Body1:FF9E00
Rightarm1:FF9E00
Shorts1:FFFFFF
Socks1:FF9E00
Pattern B2:_blackcollar
Leftarm2:DD0000
Body2:DD0000
Rightarm2:DD0000
Shorts2:000000
Socks2:DD0000
American:true
Updated:July 15, 2022
Nextseason:2011

The 2010 Atlanta Beat season was the club's inaugural season in Women's Professional Soccer, joining the Philadelphia Independence as expansion teams in the league's second season, and was their first season in the top division of women's soccer in the American soccer pyramid. Including the WUSA franchise, this was the club's fifth year of existence.[1]

Review and events

The WPS Beat, with few connections to its WUSA predecessor, was announced on June 18, 2009, as an expansion franchise. It began play at the newly built Kennesaw State University Soccer Stadium, a $16.5 million, 8,300-seat facility that had been built in partnership between the university and the Beat.[1] [2] Their owner, Fitz Johnson, was an attorney and former defense contractor. The Beat's first signings were through the 2009 WPS International Draft, selecting Ramona Bachmann, Johanna Rasmussen, and Mami Yamaguchi. The team also selected Tobin Heath with the first-overall pick in the 2010 WPS College Draft; however, she injured her ankle three matches into the season and did not appear for the Beat again.[1]

On June 4, 2010, after the Saint Louis Athletica folded in the middle of the season, the Beat added Lori Chalupny, Hope Solo, Eniola Aluko (who would lead the team in goals scored on the season), and Tina Ellertson.[1] [3] Its absorption of so many players from Athletica led to women's soccer bloggers to refer to nickname the team "Atlantica".[1]

After a 4-10-5 start, including an eight-match winless streak to start the season, the Beat fired head coach Gareth O'Sullivan and assistant coach Robbie Nicholson. James Galanis was hired to take over as coach;[4] under him, the Beat finished 1-3-1. The Beat conceded the league's most goals in the season (40) and were tied with Sky Blue FC for the fewest scored (20).[1]

Match results

WPS

Club

Roster

[5]

Management and staff

Front Office
Coaching Staff

Awards

WPS Player of the Week

WeekPlayerWeek's Statline
align=center 16 Allison Lipsher11 saves in two matches[6] [7]
align=center 19 Eniola AlukoGame-winning goal vs. Boston[8] [9]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Atlanta Beat (2010-2011). May 18, 2015. July 15, 2022. Fun While It Lasted. January 26, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210126140058/https://funwhileitlasted.net/2015/05/18/2010-2011-atlanta-beat/. live.
  2. News: Atlanta Beat, Kennesaw State University Announce New Stadium Partnership. December 14, 2009. July 15, 2022. Bleacher Report. Lauren Green. February 9, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100209070118/http://bleacherreport.com/articles/308735-beat-and-kennesaw-state-university-announce-new-stadium-partnership. live.
  3. News: Atlanta Beat Get Big Talent from St. Louis Athletica. June 4, 2010. July 15, 2022. Bleacher Report. Whitney Keller. July 15, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220715210353/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/401325. live.
  4. News: Meet Atlanta Beat Interim Head Coach James Galanis. August 21, 2020. July 15, 2022. Bleacher Report. Whitney Keller. August 11, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160811144911/http://bleacherreport.com/articles/440569-meet-atlanta-beats-interim-head-coach-james-galanis. live.
  5. Web site: Atlanta Beat vs. Sky Blue FC. Atlanta Beat. September 5, 2010. July 15, 2022. July 15, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220715210351/https://funwhileitlasted.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/9-5-2010-Atlanta-Beat-vs-SBFC-Roster-Card.pdf#page=2. live.
  6. Web site: WPS Weekly – Week 16. August 3, 2010. Women's Professional Soccer. oursportscentral.com. July 15, 2022. July 15, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220715210354/https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/wps-weekly--week-16/n-4063551. live.
  7. News: Goal.com WPS Player Of The Week: Hope Solo, Atlanta Beat. August 2, 2010. July 15, 2022. Goal. August 31, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100831094304/http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/1698/womens-soccer/2010/08/02/2053083/goalcom-wps-player-of-the-week-hope-solo-atlanta-beat. live.
  8. Web site: Aluko Named WPS Player of the Week. August 24, 2010. Atlanta Beat. oursportscentral.com. July 15, 2022. January 24, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210124170020/https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/aluko-named-wps-player-of-the-week/n-4078059. live.
  9. News: Women's Professional Soccer Weekly – Week 20. Box Score News. August 31, 2010. July 15, 2022. July 15, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220715210355/https://boxscorenews.com/womens-professional-soccer-weekly-week-p1208-68.htm. live.