Independence edge Atlanta Beat

Independence coach Paul Riley had planned to give midfielder Joanna Lohman the night off. Lohman, saying she needed a breather, was fine with the idea.

The fact that the pact wasn't kept helped the Independence defeat the Atlanta Beat, 3-2, in a Women's Professional Soccer match Sunday at West Chester University.

Lohman entered in the 74th minute and broke a 2-2 tie with goal from close range in the 81st minute, capping a comeback that saw the Independence overcome a 2-0 deficit. It marked the second 3-2 win they have earned after trailing by 2-0, the other time being against Washington.

"It's a long season. We played midweek [in Chicago], and I have tired legs," Lohman said.

Yet she didn't complain when Riley sent her in.

"I felt a lot better . . . and just tried to give our team a spark," she said.

The Independence (10-6-4) maintained their five-point lead in second place over the Boston Breakers, who beat New Jersey's Sky Blue, 4-0, on Sunday. Boston has five remaining games, while the Independence have four.

In addition to Lohman's contribution, the Independence received two goals from midfielder Christina DiMartino and a strong game off the bench from forward Danesha Adams, who continually attacked, putting pressure on the Beat defense.

"This game shows the depth of our team," said DiMartino, who entered the game with two goals.

Atlanta (4-10-5) took it to the Independence early in the match. The Beat's Leigh Ann Robinson hit the crossbar in the third minute.

A minute later, Atlanta's Johanna Rasmussen scored on a slow roller from just inside the box. The Beat made it 2-0 in the 18th minute when Lori Chalupny easily converted a breakaway.

After that goal, the Independence started to pick up the pace considerably. In the 37th minute, midfielder Lori Lindsey hit the crossbar on a header off a Heather Mitts cross.

The Independence cut the deficit to 2-1 when DiMartino drilled a rebound from 16 yards in the 42d minute.

DiMartino then tied the score in the 60th minute. Mitts created the play with a long cross in the middle from the right side.

The pass went to Amy Rodriguez, who looked as if she wanted to shoot but couldn't control the ball.

Yet it deflected off her foot to DiMartino, who scored from 15 yards out on a shot WPS all-star goalkeeper Hope Solo had no chance to stop.

In the 79th minute, Lohman's diving header off an Adams corner kick went wide. Lohman then broke the tie with her fourth goal two minutes later.

Adams began the play with a cross from the right side to Lohman, who headed the ball to Rodriguez. Lohman then received a back pass from Rodriguez and, from about eight yards out, tapped it in, showing that her legs weren't too tired on an evening when she expected to be off.