This part of the season started great, making me feel good about my prognosis of this team after the first fifth of the season. The Beat went to Philly and San Jose, and in the course of four days, took two road matches to vault into first place. The Beat looked to be crusing and ready to take the league by storm. This team clearly has more talent all over the field than any other team in this league, and they showed it on this trip.
Such optimism came to a crashing halt when the Beat returned home to face our neighbors from Carolina. They were listless and lethargic. Very unimpressive in that 0-2 loss to one of the leagues bottom-feeders. These things happen over a long season, but when something like that happens, you have to reassess where you are as a team.
Fortunately, the team seems to have bounced back with a 1-1 draw against an underachieving Boston Breaker side. A great start with a disappointing close would characterize this fifth of the season.
The next five matches make up a critical middle of the season. A home match against Washington, followed by a home rematch against San Diego. That will be followed by a trip for Carolina, where revenge will be on the minds of Beat fans. Following that are crucial matches against fellow top level clubs Philadelphia (away on that horrible artificial turf) and Washington (home). The middle of the season is crucial to set up the stretch run. Atlanta must win at least three of these matches and gain at least 11 points to maintain a good position. Anything more than that will put Atlanta in prime position for one of the top two playoff spots (the top four qualify for the playoffs).
The Beat have the talent. Will they develop the cohesiveness and drive as we go into the middle of the season? Only time will tell.