Atlanta Silverbacks Press Release - www.atlantasilverbacks.com
Friday, July 24, 2009
ATLANTA, GA – The Silverbacks ended their season with a 2-1 loss to Charlotte in the W-League conference semi-final on Friday, July 24. Despite dominating most of the game and outshooting their opponents 16-3, the Silverbacks were unable to capitalize until the 76th minute when Cortni Joyner delivered a corner into the box and Rebecca Hall headed it home.
The Silverbacks continued to pressure but nearing the 84th minute, an Eagles counter-attack culminated in an initial shot that was saved by Atlanta’s Michelle Betos. In a scramble for the rebound, a shot ricocheted off Marie Yempuku as she jumped to block the shot and the referee awarded a penalty kick to the Eagles for a hand ball. Yempuku was shown a straight red for denying a goal-scoring opportunity with her hand and Lindsay Ozimek converted the penalty kick to tie the game, 1-1 in the 85th minute.
With the game tied 1-1, the 10 Silverbacks players continued to push on, but in the 88th minute, the Lady Eagles sent a long ball towards the top of the box. Two players went in for a 50-50 ball and the referee awarded a free kick to the Lady Eagles following the collision. Charlotte’s Ozimck finished her second goal of the night with a shot to the upper right corner for the 2-1 win. The game ended just minutes later to a rain of boos from the thousand fans at the match.
"I think we are all simply perplexed and dismayed,” said Silverbacks General Manager, Laura Fedrigo. “It is unfortunate for our players and our fans to close our season out like that but Charlotte is a good team and we wish them the best."
The Charlotte Lady Eagles will advance to take on the Washington Freedom, who beat Tampa, 2-1 early last night, in the Conference Finals at 7:30pm tonight at Atlanta Silverbacks Park. The Silverbacks will be offering $5 tickets at the gate tonight in the hopes that fans come out and watch. The winner will advance to the W-League Semi-Final next weekend.
"At the end of the day, we play in a very competitive conference and it will be exciting to watch Charlotte and Washington play,” said Fedrigo. “We hope the fans come out to support them and don’t hold a referee’s calls against them. Our entire staff and most of the team will be out to watch and see who wins.”
