Brandi Chastain scored her first goal of the season in San Jose's win. (Credit: Getty Images) Email photo to friend

ATLANTA (May 3, 2003) - The San Jose CyberRays used a second half goal from defender Brandi Chastain to defeat the Atlanta Beat 1-0 on Saturday night at Herndon Stadium in Atlanta. The CyberRays broke a two game losing streak, by defeating the Beat, while Atlanta's undefeated run was snapped. The goal was the first of the season for Chastain. CyberRays goalkeeper LaKeysia Beene recorded her 2nd shutout of the season and the CyberRays move to 2-2-0. The Atlanta Beat's record moves to 2-1-1.

The Beat and CyberRays played a fast paced first half, with each team recording chances. The CyberRays had a scoring chance in the 6th minute when defender Michelle French sent a cross to Tisha Venturini-Hoch, but Venturini-Hoch's shot from close range sailed high.

The Beat's best first half chance came in the 24th minute when Charmaine Hooper broke through the defense and dribbled by Beene. With a defender in goal and a tough angle, Hooper's shot went just wide right of the open goal.

The Beat out shot the CyberRays 7-6 in the first half, but the score was knotted at zeros. Each goalkeeper made one save, on one shot on goal in the first half.

The Beat came out on the offensive in the second half, with an early chance going by the wayside when a Homare Sawa cross sailed just in front of the goal past a sliding Cindy Parlow. In the 55th minute the Beat nearly had the first goal as a Chastain back pass forced Beene to tip the ball over her head and towards the goal. Hooper raced to the ball, but closed too late as she shot the ball from a tough angle into the side netting.

The CyberRays notched the game's only goal in the 69th minute after a foul was called on the Beat 30 yards out from goal near the right flank. Sissi, who came on as a sub in the 60th minute, stepped up and delivered a cross into the penalty area. Chastain got free from a defender and headed the ball into the back of the net, for her first goal of the season.

The loss was the first of the season for the Beat and goalkeeper Briana Scurry. The goal allowed was only the second by the Beat this season. Beene recorded her second shutout of the season and now has 14 career shutouts, one behind Scurry.

The Beat will face the San Diego Spirit at home on Saturday, May 10, at 7 p.m. The Spirit tied the Boston Breakers 1-1 Saturday night in Boston. The Spirit's record stands at 2-1-1. The CyberRays face the Carolina Courage at home on May 10. The Courage, the defending WUSA champions, are off to an 0-3-0 start this season.

1 2 F San Jose 0 1 1 Atlanta 0 0 0

Scoring Summary: SJ - Brandi Chastain, 1 (Sissi, 2) 69'

SAN JOSE - LaKeysia Beene, Dianne Alagich, Thori Bryan, Amanda Cromwell, Michelle French, Brandi Chastain, Keri Sanchez, Betsy Barr, Tisha Venturini-Hoch (Sissi 60'), Pretinha (Katie Barnes, 86'), Katia (Mandy Clemens, 89')

TOTAL SHOTS: 11 (Chastain 3, Katia 2, Sissi 2); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (Chastain 2, Sissi 2) FOULS: 19 (Alagich 3, Barr 3, Katia 3); OFFSIDE: 2; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: Beene 6; CAUTIONS: 3 (Sanchez 21', Cromwell 75', Barnes 90+)

ATLANTA BEAT - Briana Scurry; Leslie Gaston (Julie Augustyniak 80'); Nancy Augustyniak; Sharolta Nonen; Ifeoma Dieke; Marci Miller (Emily Burt, 83'); Nikki Serlenga; Homare Sawa; Cindy Parlow; Charmaine Hooper (Abby Crumpton 77'); Maribel Dominguez

TOTAL SHOTS: 16 (Dominguez 6, Hooper 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (Dominguez 3, Sawa 1); FOULS: 15 (Sawa 3, Gaston 3, Hooper 3); OFFSIDE: 7; CORNER KICKS: 2; SAVES: Scurry 5; CAUTIONS: 1(Parlow, 56'); EJECTIONS: None.

Referee: Keri Seitz Referee's Assistants: Brian D'Amato 4th Official: Melanie Johnson Attendance: 7,328 Temperature: Clear, 73 degrees.

Beat vs. CyberRays Quotes

San Jose Cyberrays Brandi Chastain on her goal: "We work on free kicks in training, working to find seams. We're fortunate to have Sissi who can get balls over players. I was fortunate to get through two defenders."

Ian Sawyers on Sissi coming off the bench: "The team has depth...we challenge our starters. We knew it was going to be a very physical game and with Sissi, if she plays 90 minutes, you never know how she will do. It worked for us having her come off the bench."

Atlanta Beat Tom Stone on the game: "We weren't very good up top. You've got to make sure you have the mentality for victory."

Briana Scurry on Brandi's goal: "Hats off to Sissi. With San Jose you know who their top headers are (Tisha and Brandi). I had zero chance of saving the ball. It was a great finish by Brandi."

Ifeoma Dieke on her performance: "I was nervous trying to fit back into the defensive rhythm. I'm a little disappointed with my performance and I know that I am capable of better."