Beat losses second straight with playoffs on line

ATLANTA - Needing a win to clinch a playoff spot, the Atlanta Beat lost its second straight game, a 1-0 loss to San Diego Wednesday. <br> <br> Julie Foudy scored against U.S. National teammate Briana Scurry in the 46th minute and Carly Smolak handed Atlanta its third shutout. The Beat had scored in each of its previous 15 games. <br> <br> Atlanta, which holds a two-point edge over San Jose for the final WUSA playoff slot, can secure a postseason berth by winning its season finale Saturday at home against league-leading Philadelphia. The Beat would also get in if San Jose loses or ties Saturday at Boston. <br> <br> After a scoreless first half, San Diego scored off a throw-in from Kim Pickup. Jenny Mascaro headed the ball to Foudy, who beat Scurry with a shot to the right side of the net. <br> <br> Sun Wen and Homare Sawa each had shots hit the crossbar for Atlanta, which beat San Diego 2-0 and 4-1 in two previous meetings. The Beat, which played the final 40 minutes with national-team player Cindy Parlow on the bench, also came away empty on two corner kicks in the 88th minute. <br> <br> Smolak (3-4-1) earned her second shutout, recording four saves.

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