ATLANTA - Conny Pohlers scored in the 49th minute, leading the Atlanta Beat to a 2-1 victory over the Washington Freedom on Saturday in a game where both lineups were depleted by national-team callups.<br>
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Pohlers took a loose ball and weaved through three Washington defenders before beating Freedom goalkeeper Nicci Wright with a shot to the upper right corner of the net.<br>
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Atlanta (8-3-4) increased its lead over second-place Boston to six points. Atlanta has six games left, five on the road.<br>
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The Beat improved to 2-0 in games started by goalkeeper Melanie Wilson, who had two saves. She made a leaping deflection of Casey Zimnys shot in stoppage time to preserve the win.<br>
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Ifeoma Dieke scored her first goal in the 26th minute to give the Beat the lead but Washington's Jen Grubb tied it in the 27th minute with a shot from 20 yards out.<br>
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Washington (6-5-3) had 10 corner kicks to Atlantas three and outshot the Beat 12-10. Meredith Beard had a clear shot in the 22nd minute, but Wilson deflected it off the left post.<br>
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