By Scott French, Senior Editor NEW BOSS: Carolina owns the top spot in the WUSA after claiming a league-record fifth successive victory Saturday with a fortuitous 2-1 decision over visiting Boston. German star Birgit Prinz headed home Danielle Fotopoulos' cross, setting a WUSA record by scoring a goal in five consecutive matches while extending hers and Fotopoulos' points streaks to nine games, also a league mark. Norwegian midfielder Unni Lehn, in her best performance of the season, was Carolina's catalyst. The Courage (10-2-3, 33 points) needed an Angela Hucles own goal in the 66th minute, a deflection from a Fotopoulos backheel, to pull out its 10th victory of the season. Philadelphia (9-1-4, 31 points) missed a chance to vault back into first place, as it had twice before, when it managed only a 1-1 tie in Washington on Sunday. Zhao Lihong's 85th-minute free kick earned a point for the Charge, which has played one fewer game than Carolina. Philly will be home for Saturday's showdown. PLAYOFF RACE: A blistering battle is emerging for the final two semifinal berths among Atlanta, San Jose and Washington, each with 22 points and six games to play. If the season finished today, the Beat and CyberRays — combatants in the first Founders Cup final — would advance based on head-to-head(to-head) results. Atlanta won the season series with the 'Rays; both teams' series with Washington are tied at a game apiece. The Freedom visits San Jose on Sunday and is home against Atlanta on Aug. 4. The CyberRays beat Atlanta, 3-1, as Katia scored twice Wednesday in San Jose, then rallied for a tie in San Diego, 2-2, Sunday on the Brazilian forward's 69th-minute penalty kick. Atlanta ended a three-game skid Saturday with a 4-1 rout of last-place New York. Resurgent Washington got 90 minutes (and a missed penalty kick) from Mia Hamm and a terrific defensive performance from Carrie Moore in a 1-1 tie with Philadelphia. Moore shut down French forward Marinette Pichon, who shares the WUSA scoring lead with German forward Maren Meinert of Boston. PAGS TO RAGS: Jaime Pagliarulo, a regular back-up goalkeeper for the U.S. women's national team, was benched for San Diego's 2-2 tie with San Jose after poor showings in the Spirit's encounters with Boston last weekend and Wednesday. Pags was pulled at halftime of both games after fumbling balls into her net. She gave away two — and nearly a third — in the 5-4 victory July 6 in San Diego, then let a Hucles shot slip through her gloves three minutes into a 3-2 loss Wednesday in Boston. ''These mistakes have been very unlike Pags,'' San Diego GM/interim coach Kevin Crow said. ''After being so consistent in the past, it's just very uncharacteristic of her. We've got to sit down and figure out what is going on.'' Carly Smolak, came on at halftime in the games against Boston and got her second career start against San Jose. BEST GOAL: It's nice to see a bit of magic off Sun Wen's foot. The Chinese forward, whose WUSA career has been defined by injury, started Atlanta on its romp in New York with a 23-yard free kick that dipped over the wall, under diving goalkeeper Saskia Webber and into the lower-left corner. ETCETERA: Tracy Ducar was in Boston's nets for both games this week, her first action of the season. … Shannon MacMillan scored Wednesday and Sunday, her first goals since May 25. … Scottish forward Julie Fleeting, four minutes into her Spirit debut, assisted on MacMillan's goal Wednesday. Mac returned the favor on Sunday, setting up Fleeting's tally. … Rookie defender Danielle Slaton sat out Carolina's win over Boston with an ailing knee, and aggravation of an injury dating to 2000. … Washington assistant coach Dave Vanole, a backup goalkeeper on the United States' 1990 World Cup squad, guided the Freedom against Philadelphia. Head coach Jim Gabarra was suspended after his ejection in a 2-1 win July 3 over Atlanta.