Courage teammates pile on Carla Overbeck after her game-winning goal on Saturday. (Credit: Allsport)

CAROLINA COURAGE 2, ATLANTA BEAT 1
August 17, 2002 - SAS Stadium

CARY, N.C. - A "golden goal" by second half substitute Carla Overbeck gave the Courage a berth in Founders Cup II as Carolina (12-5-4, 40 pts.,1-0-0 WUSA postseason) defeated the Atlanta Beat (11-9-1, 34 pts., 34 pts., 0-1-0 WUSA postseason) 2-1 on Saturday afternoon at SAS Stadium. With the win the Courage advance to the WUSA Founders Cup II versus the Washington Freedom on August 24 in Atlanta, Ga.

"We just came through a terrific game with Atlanta," said Carolina Head Coach Marcia McDermott. "We have so much respect for them and to come out on time is great. Now, we need to focus our attention on Washington. They are the hottest team in the league. They are playing great soccer and are completely confident. This is going to be a great game between two teams that know how to score goals."

Two minutes into overtime, Overbeck, who came in during the 74th minute, scored the game-winning "golden goal" to clinch the victory for the Courage. Danielle Fotopoulos began the play with a pass to Birgit Prinz down the right side. As the German striker was entering Atlanta's penalty area she ripped a shot towards the far post. Atlanta goalkeeper Briana Scurry got her right hand on it to deflect the shot to the far edge of the six-yard box. An unmarked Overback ran onto the ball and buried a shot into the back of the net for the win.

Cindy Parlow, Erin Baxter, and Danielle Fotopoulos all go after a headball on Saturday. (Credit: Allsport)

"For these two teams (Carolina and Washington) to go to the Founders Cup after a not so good year last year is just a credit to the whole organization," said Overbeck. "It was definitely special. We've been working hard all year. Marcia (McDermott) and the staff have done a great job. I glad we're going to the Founders Cup championship."

Atlanta took a 1-0 lead in the 28th minute on a penalty kick by Nikki Serlenga. The Atlanta midfielder ripped a shot from "the spot" to beat Carolina goalkeeper Kristin Luckenbill to her right. The PK was the result of Carolina's Danielle Fotopoulos fowling Atlanta's Cindy Parlow during a corner kick by Serlenga in the 27th minute. The goal was the first of the 2002 WUSA Playoffs for Serlenga.

Following the Atlanta goal, the game was suspended in the 29th minute for 29 minutes due to lighting.

The Beat was forced to play a person down for the remainder of the match after Julie Augustyniak received her second yellow card of the match and was ejected in the 57th minute.

Carolina tied the match with PK a goal by Danielle Fotopoulos in the 89 minute. Burying the ball into the exact spot as her counter part did earlier in the match, Fotopoulos beat Scurry to her right. The penalty kick was the result of Carolina's Hege Riise being taken down by Atlanta's Marci Miller in the area. The score was the first of the postseason for Fotopoulos.

"I think we just kept fighting," said Fotopoulos. "We kept wanting it more than they did and came up with the win. But, I can tell you that when the whistle blew I was in tears."

With neither team able to claim the lead during regulation, the match went into overtime.

Carolina will now head to Atlanta, Ga. to face Washington (11-5-5, 38 pts., 1-0-0 WUSA postseason) in the WUSA Founders Cup II at 4:00 p.m. (ET) on PAX TV. The Freedom defeated the Philadelphia Charge 1-0 earlier in the day at Villanova Stadium.

"They're the hottest team right now in the WUSA," said Overbeck. "So, we are going to work hard this week and hopefully get a win next week."

1 2 OT F
Atlanta 1 0 0 1
Carolina 0 1 1 2

Scoring Summary:
ATL - Serlenga 1 (unassisted) (PK), 28'
CAR - Fotopoulos 1 (unassisted) (PK), 89'
CAR - Overbeck 1 (Fotopoulos 1, Prinz 1), 92'

ATLANTA BEAT-Briana Scurry, Sharolta Nonen, Julie Augustyniak, Lisa Krzykowski, Nancy Augustyniak, Liping Wang (Kelly Cagle 53'), Kylie Bivens, Nikki Serlenga, Homare Sawa (Emily Burt 87'), Charmaine Hooper (Marci Miller 80'), Cindy Parlow.

TOTAL SHOTS: 6 (2 tied with 2); SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (Serlenga 2); FOULS: 25 (2 tied with 6); OFFSIDE: 1; CORNER KICKS: 2; SAVES: Scurry 8; CAUTIONS: J.Augustyniak 31'; Bivens 38'; J.Augustyniak 57'; Hooper 65'; EJECTIONS: J. Augustyniak 57'.

CAROLINA COURAGE-Kristin Luckenbill, Staci Burt, Nel Fettig, Erin Baxter, Brooke O'Hanley (Danielle Slaton 41'), Tiffany Roberts, Unni Lehn, Venus James (Carla Overbeck 74'), Hege Riise, Danielle Fotopoulos, Birgit Prinz.

TOTAL SHOTS: 21 (Fotopoulos 6); SHOTS ON GOAL: 10 (2 tied with 3); FOULS: 14 (Fotopoulos 5); OFFSIDE: 2; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: Luckenbill 2; CAUTIONS: Lehn 68'; EJECTIONS: None.

Referee: Misail Tsapos
Referee's Assistants: Steven Davidson, Kelly Lee
4th Official: Todd Perry
Attendance: 5,583
Temperature: Partly cloudy, hot, 92 degrees.