Emmy Barr scored her first WUSA goal and played a role in another strike as the Washington Freedom grabbed an early lead and held off visiting Atlanta, 2-1, Wednesday before 6,578 at RFK Stadium. The Freedom (6-5-3, 21 points), which has won four of its past five games, moved from fifth place to third while matching their win and point totals from 2001 with one-third of the season remaining. It was Washington's first points earned against the Beat (6-6-1, 19 points) in five meetings. Barr headed home an Anne Makinen free kick in the 11th minute, then played a give-and-go with Abby Wambach to set up Bai Jie's tally eight minutes later. Atlanta dictated terms much of the match but found the net only when Washington midfielder Steffi Jones' attempted clearance of a Nikki Serlenga free kick resulted in an own goal four minutes into the second half. The Beat twice hit the goal frame — Amanda Cromwell's 24-yard free kick in the fifth minute clanged off the crossbar, and Cindy Parlow's 22nd-minute shot skimmed off the right post — and Freedom goalkeeper Erin Fahey, playing in place of injured Siri Mullinix, saved Charmaine Hooper's eighth-minute penalty kick after Jen Grubb was whistled for grabbing Hooper's shirt. Makinen left with a leg injury midway through the first half, and Freedom coach Jim Gabarra was expelled in the 53rd minute after arguing a call by referee Sandra Hunt. WEDNESDAY'S SUMMARY July 3 at Washington Washington 2 Atlanta 1. Goals: Barr (Makinen) 11, Bai (Barr, Wambach) 19; own goal Jones 49. Washington — Fahey; S. Little, Moore, Grubb, Barr; Jones, Cook (Hamm, 51), Makinen (Gerardo, 24), Pu (Zimny, 83); Bai (J. Little, 68), Wambach. Atlanta — Scurry; J. Augustyniak, Cromwell, Nonen, N. Augustyniak (Sun, 46); Bivens, Serlenga; Wang (Cagle, 46; Miller, 64), Sawa; Parlow, Hooper. Yellow cards — Washington: Wambach 45; Atlanta: Hooper 58, Bivens 60. Ejection — Washington coach Gabarra 53. Referee — Sandra Hunt. A — 6,578. STANDINGS 1. Philadelphia 8-1-3, 27 points; 2. Carolina 8-2-3, 27; 3. Washington 6-5-3, 21; 4. Atlanta 6-6-1, 19; 5. San Jose 5-4-3, 18; 6. Boston 3-5-5, 14; 7. San Diego 2-7-3, 9; 8. New York 2-10-1, 7. THIS WEEK'S GAMES
Thursday, July 4
San Jose at Carolina, 7 p.m. Saturday, July 6
Boston at San Diego, 4 p.m. Sunday, July 7
New York at Philadelphia, 7 p.m. All times EDT. LEADING SCORERS
(G-A–Pts)
1. Tiffeny Milbrett (New York) 8-5–21
2. Danielle Fotopoulos (Carolina) 8-4–20
3. Marinette Pichon (Philadelphia) 9-1–19
Maren Meinert (Boston) 6-7–19
5. Hege Riise (Carolina) 4-10–18
6. Katia (San Jose) 8-1–17
Dagny Mellgren (Boston) 8-1–17
Abby Wambach (Washington) 6-5–17
9. Birgit Prinz (Carolina) 6-4–16
10. Charmaine Hooper (Atlanta) 6-1–13
Kristine Lilly (Boston) 3-7–13