The Atlanta Silverbacks Men will look to continue their seven-week home unbeaten-streak this weekend on Saturday night at 7:30 pm when they take on the Puerto Rico Islanders. The Silverbacks and the Islanders have met twice already this season; Atlanta opened their season with two matches in Puerto Rico – the Silverbacks lost one (3-1) and tied one (1-1). Atlanta and Puerto Rico are exactly tied with 24 points and each team holds a 7-5-3 record. Both goalkeepers, Atlanta’s Felipe Quintero and Puerto Rico’s Dan Kennedy, are tied for first in the USL First Division for goalkeeping wins; they each have seven 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.
MCLAUGHLIN, ALL-STARS DRAW 0-0 WITH SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY
Jason McLaughlin and the USL All-Stars tied Sheffield Wednesday of the English Coca-Cola Championship League 0-0 last night in the USL First Division All-Star game in Cary, NC. McLaughlin, the only rookie in the match, started the second half and made an immediate impact in the game. He created numerous chances for the All-Stars and nearly scored in the 83rd minute. Zinho of Miami FC played the ball to McLaughlin who beat his defender and sent a shot towards the upper corner of the far post, Sheffield Wednesday’s goalkeeper Chris Adamson got to the ball and punched it out.
On Tuesday, the 2006 All-Stars competed in a skills competition that included four events: speed dribbling, seven-second shootout, hardest shot, and a competition to hit the cross bar. McLaughlin won two of the four events; he edged out Gabriel Gervais (Montreal Impact) to win the speed dribbling contest and he also won the seven-second shootout. McLaughlin returned this morning and rejoined his team at practice.
“I had a great time and it was a wonderful experience. It was cool to train with the veteran players of the league. Because I’m a rookie, I didn’t know the other guys, so it was fun to get to know people from different teams,” commented McLaughlin after the game.
PDL PLAYS FINAL HOME MATCH, LOOKS FOR EDGE IN WILLIE B. CUP
The Atlanta Silverbacks U23’s will play their final home match tonight at 7:00 pm against the Nashville Metros. Tonight’s game is the second game of the 2006 Willie B. Cup, a three-game competition between the two clubs. The first match, played on May 13th, ended in a 2-2 tie. Atlanta will travel to Nashville on Saturday to play their final match of the 2006 season where the winner of the 2006 Willie B. Cup will be named. Tickets to see the U23’s in their final match at RE/MAX Greater Atlanta Stadium cost $5 and can be purchased at the stadium box office. For more information call 1-866-GO-BACKS.
SILVERBACKS VISIT BODIES EXHIBIT
The Atlanta Silverbacks visited “Bodies… The Exhibition” yesterday evening at the Atlanta Civic Center. The world-famous exhibition allows visitors to see their bodies in ways they have never before experienced. The exhibit showcases 21 whole-body specimens and more than 250 organs and partial body specimens. Silverbacks’ players and staff members attended the exhibit to see the intricate inner-workings of the body and the muscles that allow athletes to perform. Silverbacks’ defender Matthew O’Toole commented on the exhibit, “It definitely makes you want to do whatever you can to take care of your body because you see what you’re made of... I thought it was extremely interesting to see all the body parts and how they work together to make you be able to do what you can as an athlete.”
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