With ominous thunderstorms threatening, the Atlanta Silverbacks trailed in just their second game all season, down a goal late in the first half to the visiting Northern Virginia Majestics.  The storms held back however the Silverbacks offense did not, scoring four unanswered goals to claim the decisive victory. 

 

The battle of the Atlantic division leader Atlanta and cellar dwelling Northern Virginia clashed fairly evenly in the first half, but the Silverbacks proved to be too strong for the Majestics in the final forty-five minutes.  Atlanta had nipped Northern Virginia 1-0 earlier in the year on the road.

 

Despite applying most of the pressure early on in the game, Atlanta would be the first team to concede a goal. In the 28th minute of the match, Majestic striker Casey Vornadore collected a ball from 25 yards out on the left side of the pitch, found herself with a bit of space, and swiftly fired a shot past Atlanta goalkeeper Michelle Betos to give Northern Virginia the early lead. It was the Majestics first shot of the game, and the first goal Atlanta has given up at home all year long.

 

Atlanta would respond quickly – taking just five minutes to answer the Majestic goal. In the 33rd minute, Silverback midfielder Alexa Newfield crossed in a ball from the left side to the head of teammate Megan Tomlinson, who knocked it past Majestic goalkeeper Kelsey Quinn for the equalizer.

 

The Newfield/Tomlinson duo struck again early in the second half.  Tomlinson would again use her head to score the go-ahead goal, redirecting a Newfield cross in the 49th minute for the 2-1 advantage.

 

Newfield would score a goal of her own six minutes later, streaking down the left side of the field and firing a shot past Quinn to double the Silverbacks lead on the unassisted goal.

 

Atlanta striker Kay Harbrueger cleaned up a mess in front of the Majestics net, slamming home a rebound off a hard Cortni Joyner shot from 20 yards out in the 62nd minute to round out the scoring for the Silverbacks.

 

Northern Virginia finishes the road trip tomorrow night, facing the Charlotte Eagles for the first time this year. The Majestics return home on Saturday, July 3rd, for a rematch against Charlotte at Hellwig Memorial Park in Manassas, Virginia. Match time is scheduled for 7:00PM.