Atlanta Silverbacks

SILVERBACKS MEN AT HOME ON SATURDAY
         The Atlanta Silverbacks Men will take on the Virginia Beach Mariners this Saturday at 7:30 pm as they look to extend their unbeaten record at home. Atlanta and Virginia Beach met once already this season when the Silverbacks fell 1-0. In addition to remaining unbeaten at home, the Silverbacks will be looking to even the score and get revenge on the Mariners.
         The Silverbacks, 5-4-3, currently sit in 10th place in the USL First Division standings while the Mariners, 5-3-5, sit in 7th place. The Mariner’s Gregory Simmonds has six goals on the season and ranks 3rd in the USL for goals scored. The Silverbacks’ Jason McLaughlin has four goals on the season and ranks 7th in the USL for goals scored. Both Simmonds and McLaughlin have been invited to play in the USL All-Star Game on July 19th. The Silverbacks’ goalie, Felipe Quintero, has five goalkeeping wins that put him tied for 3rd place in the USL First Division standings for goalkeeping wins.
         Tickets for this Saturday’s game are available, however, after midnight on Friday night remaining tickets will only be available through the online “print-at-home” option. Tickets will also be available at the stadium box office starting at 5:00 pm on Saturday. Please purchase your tickets early! Upper level parking opens at 5:30 pm and the stadium gates open at 6:00 pm. For more information call 1-866-GO-BACKS or visit www.atlantasilverbacks.com.

U23’s RETURN HOME THURSDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT
         The Atlanta Silverbacks U23’s, 4-3-2, will play at home tonight against the undefeated Carolina Dynamo, 11-0-1, at 7:00 pm at RE/MAX Greater Atlanta Stadium. In their first game of the season, the U23’s fell 1-0 to the Dynamo. Tonight the Silverbacks will look to hand the South Atlantic Division Leaders their first loss of the season.
         The U23’s will have to shut down two key Dynamo players in order to win tonight - Randi Patterson has 13 goals and 28 points so far this season and ranks 3rd in the PDL standings for goals scored and points; Benjamin Hunter combines well with Patterson and is tied for 1st place in the PDL standings for assists.
         The Silverbacks will have another chance for revenge tomorrow night when they take on the Virginia Beach Submariners at 7:00 pm at RE/MAX Greater Atlanta Stadium. The U23’s lost to the Submariners 2-1 earlier in the season after the Submariners scored the winning goal in stoppage time.
         Tickets for to see the Atlanta Silverbacks U23’s cost $5 and are available at the stadium box office. For more information please call 1-866-GO-BACKS.

WOMEN ON THE ROAD IN FLORIDA
         The Atlanta Silverbacks Women left yesterday for a three-game road trip to Florida. The Silverbacks begin play tonight against the Bradenton Athletics at 5:00 pm. The team will then travel to play the Central Florida Krush on Saturday and the Cocoa Expos Women on Sunday.
         The Silverbacks will be joined this week by Candace West, one of the Silverbacks’ Super-Y players who was pulled up to join the women’s team after the loss of several players due to injury. The addition of West, a young standout in the PDP Program, epitomizes the hierarchy of the Silverbacks’ model of developing players in the youth program so they can have the opportunity to develop and enhance their game. West will continue to play within the U16 PDP Program while training with the Silverbacks’ W-League franchise.
         The Silverbacks Women will return to RE/MAX Greater Atlanta Stadium next Thursday, July 13 and Friday, July 14 in the team’s final two home games of the 2006 regular season. For ticket information call 1-866-GO-BACKS or visit www.atlantasilverbacks.com.