Saturday, April 28 – (noon) – Washington Freedom at Carolina Courage (TNT). Season series: First Meeting; All-time regular season series: First Meeting. Leading scorers: Washington: F Pretinha (1 goal = 2 pts); Carolina: none. Did you know? Carolina coach Marcia McDermott won three NCAA championships while playing for Courage color commentator Anson Dorrance at North Carolina. Key players out: Washington: Anne Makinen (school); Carolina: D Staci Wilson (hip flexor), M Nicole Roberts (fractured tibia and fibula in leg-R). Notes: Washington’s former North Carolina Tar Heels — F Mia Hamm, G Siri Mullinix and D Lindsey Stoecker — make their return to UNC’s Fetzer Field. … Look for Hamm to continue to play on the flank and for Brazilian F Pretinha and F Roseli to start up top. … Carolina needs better play from F Danielle Fotopoulos, F Meredith Florance and M Kim Yankowski. Canadian F Silvana Burtini, a substitute in last week’s 1-0 loss to Boston, may be the best attacking player of the bunch and deserves more playing time. The Courage may get some help from reserve F Sarah Yohe, who was activated when M Nicole Roberts got hurt. The Courage also needs to make more use of M Hege Riise. KEY MATCHUP: Carolina D Staci Burt vs. Washington F Pretinha and F Roseli: The talented but inexperienced Burt takes on the experienced Brazilian duo. She’ll get help from elder stateswomen D Carla Overbeck and D Wen Lirong, but playing three in the back — in a 3-4-3 formation — may not be the best way to defend against a potent Freedom squad. SCHEDULED REFEREES: TBA. Saturday, April 28 – (7:30 p.m.) – Philadelphia Charge at Atlanta Beat. Season series: First Meeting; All-time regular season series: First Meeting. Leading scorers: Philadelphia: D Doris Fitschen and F Kelly Smith (each w/1 g = 2 pts); Atlanta: none. Did you know? Atlanta M Charry Korgel works as a ski instructor in Vail, Colo. Key players out: Philadelphia: D Erica Iverson (stress fracture in foot-L); Atlanta: M Marci Miller (broken jaw), M Sara Reading (knee-R). Notes: Atlanta needs to score some goals against a dangerous Charge team that leads the league in scoring, albeit after just one week. The Beat needs a better performance from F Charmaine Hooper, who was subdued vs. New York last week, and F Cindy Parlow, who has been battling the flu. Atlanta F Sun Wen, who made a cameo appearance last week, may play up to 45 minutes vs. the Charge. … If Charge M Lorrie Fair plays on the flank again as she did in the 2-0 win over San Diego, she may not have much of an impact on Georgia Tech’s cramped field. KEY MATCHUP: Philadelphia F Kelly Smith vs. Atlanta D Lisa Krzykowski: Smith is the real deal and Krzykowski will need help from Atlanta’s three other defenders to contain her. If the English star causes as much damage to the Beat as she did to San Diego last week, then Soccer America’s preseason rankings — with Atlanta No. 1 and Philly No. 8 — may have to flip flop. SCHEDULED REFEREES: Referee: Nancy Lay; Assistant Referees: Sharon Wheeler (SAR), Thomas Rathgeb (JAR). Fourth Official: Griff Sims. Sunday, April 29 – (7:00 p.m.) – San Diego Spirit at New York Power. Season series: First Meeting; All-time regular season series: First Meeting. Leading scorers: San Diego: none; New York: none. Did you know? San Diego M Trudi Sharpsteen is the oldest player in the league at 36. Key players out: San Diego: none; New York: none. Notes: In an effort to shake up his club, New York coach Pat Farmer will start F Kerry Connors instead of F Tammy Pearman and M Katie Tracy instead of M Emily Stauffer. Pearman and Stauffer started last week’s scoreless tie with Atlanta. Tracy and Connors need to get the ball to the feet of F Tiffeny Milbrett, something the Power rarely did against the Beat. … New York F Ann Kristin Aarones (lower back) may miss her second straight match. … San Diego F Shannon MacMillan, who played well last week but was shut out by Philly, will look to get untracked against a New York defense that also played well last week. Mac will have a tough time against New York D Gro Espeseth and U.S. Olympic teammate D Christie Pearce. KEY MATCHUP: San Diego M Julie Foudy vs. New York M Kristy Whelchel: Unless Whelchel gets some help — perhaps from M Jen Lalor, who missed last week’s game (sprained ankle-L) — Foudy and the Spirit will dominate midfield and, probably, the game. SCHEDULED REFEREES: TBA. Sunday, April 29 – (2:00 p.m.) – Boston Breakers at Bay Area CyberRays. Season series: First Meeting; All-time regular season series: First Meeting. Leading scorers: Boston: M Maren Meinert (1 g = 2 pts); Bay Area: none. Did you know? Boston defeated the Bay Area, 2-1, in Spring Training on a day when CyberRays coach Ian Sawyers rested some starters and tried a new formation (a 4-3-3). Boston M Kristine Lilly scored the game-winning goal in the 90th minute. Key players out: Boston: none; Bay Area: D Linda Kurtyka (torn quadriceps-R), D Lauren Molinaro (broken ankle-R). Notes: Whether or not Bay Area M Tisha Venturini (broken wrist-L) plays is a game-time decision. “Obviously I’d really like to, but it’ll have to be a smart decision on everyone’s part,” Venturini said on April 26. “I don’t want to go in there and hinder the team. I think it’s a 50-50 shot.” She’s listed as doubtful. Possible replacements, if the C-Rays play their normal 3-5-2, are M Theresa Wagner, D Lisa Nanez Wagner, D Carey Dorn and F Kim Clark. Wagner, who replaced Venturini in the league opener, is the front runner. Sawyers may also change the formation. … Boston F Allie Kemp has a hyperextended right knee but is probable for Sunday. KEY MATCHUP: Boston M Maren Meinert vs. Bay Area M Amy Walsh: The 23-year-old CyberRays defensive midfielder played well in the league opener but has a tough matchup with the 27-year-old Meinert, who has 78 caps and 25 goals for Germany. SCHEDULED REFEREES: Referee: Kari Seitz; Assistant Referees: Dinesh Singh (SAR), Marty R. Arbo-Snead (JAR); Fourth Official: Robert Sabella.