# 2010 Atlanta Beat season

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.

## 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. 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.
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. Its absorption of so many players from Athletica led to women's soccer bloggers to refer to nickname the team "Atlantica".
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; 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).

## Club
### Roster

    As of September 5, 2010
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 0 | GK | USA | Mallori Lofton-Malachi |
| 2 | MF | USA | McCall Zerboni |
| 4 | MF | USA | Stacy Bishop |
| 6 | DF | USA | Kia McNeill |
| 7 | DF | USA | Leigh Ann Robinson |
| 8 | FW | MEX | Mónica Ocampo |
| 9 | MF | JPN | Mami Yamaguchi |
| 10 | FW | SUI | Ramona Bachmann |
| 11 | MF | USA | Angie Kerr |
| 12 | MF | USA | Lori Chalupny |
| 13 | FW | DEN | Johanna Rasmussen |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 14 | MF | USA | Carolyn Blank |
| 15 | FW | USA | Amanda Cinalli |
| 16 | DF | USA | Kaley Fountain |
| 17 | GK | USA | Brett Maron |
| 18 | MF | JPN | Aya Miyama |
| 19 | MF | ENG | Rebecca Nolin |
| 21 | FW | ENG | Eniola Aluko |
| 23 | DF | USA | Tina Ellertson |
| 24 | FW | USA | Lauren Sesselmann |
| 78 | GK | USA | Hope Solo |
| — | MF | USA | Manya Makoski |

### Management and staff
#### Front Office

| Position | Staff |
| Owner & Chief Executive Officer | T. Fitz Johnson |
| General Manager | Shawn McGee |
| Player and Community Relations Director | Jen Plante |
| Sales and Marketing Director | Chris Sperry |
| Corporate Partnerships Manager | Sherry King-Castellanos |
| Media Relations Manager | Christa Mann |
| Crowd Building Director | Scott Foster |
| Operations Director | Kristin Lettiere |
| Benefits Coordinator | Jan Williams |
| Administrative Assistant | Maria Pacheco |
Last updated: August 10, 2010 Source: Atlanta Beat

#### Coaching Staff

| Position | Staff |
| Interim Head Coach | James Galanis |
| Asst. Coach/GK Coach | Russ Stroud |
Last updated: September 10, 2010 Source: Atlanta Beat

## Standings

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 4 | Washington Freedom | 24 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 33 | 33 | 0 | 31 | Advance to First Round |
| 5 | Sky Blue FC | 24 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 20 | 31 | −11 | 28 | |
| 6 | Chicago Red Stars | 24 | 7 | 6 | 11 | 21 | 27 | −6 | 27 | |
| 7 | Atlanta Beat | 24 | 5 | 6 | 13 | 20 | 40 | −20 | 21 | |
| 8 | Saint Louis Athletica | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 8 | +1 | 9 | Team withdrawn |

## Awards
### WPS Player of the Week

| Week | Player | Week's Statline |
| 16 | Allison Lipsher | 11 saves in two matches |
| 19 | Eniola Aluko | Game-winning goal vs. Boston |