Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 24, 1990 TAG: 9005240271
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: By BOB TEITLEBAUM SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Indians dominated the middle of the field and beat host William Byrd 2-0 Wednesday night in the Group AA semifinals. Blacksburg, which won the first Group AA soccer title ever awarded in the state in 1989, will play host to Chancellor at 7 p.m. Saturday for this year's title. Chancellor defeated York 7-0 in the other semifinal.
The Indians already have won Group AA championships in football, boys' cross country and girls' track. The only other Timesland 1989-90 team state champions this year have been George Wythe in Group AA girls' basketball and Christiansburg in Group AA boys' cross country.
The Indians kept the pressure on Byrd most of the first half. It was just a matter of time before they scored, and, with 9:25 left, Giarri Karmis threw in cross field. Andrew Shires hit a header past Byrd goalie Dwayne Thompson.
"We play on the same club team in the fall and we sort of know each other's moves," Shires said.
"We've scored twice on that particular play this year. We usually know where the other one is."
Blacksburg's second goal came less than 15 minutes into the second half as Nathan Warren received a pass in front of the goal. "I just beat their fullbacks and put it past their goalie," he said.
The Indians didn't know what to expect from Byrd, but they found out quickly.
"We thought after North Cross beat them 9-1, they wouldn't be that tough. But I have to give them credit, they played great," Warren said.
"They controlled the middle of the field and got two good goals on us. They weren't cheap," said Jeff Highfill, Byrd's coach. "We had a chance in the first half, but a shot bounced off the corner post and we had a shot from the front in the second half that [Shawn] Niday didn't get off. If he had scored, it could have been interesting."
Blacksburg 1 1-2
William Byrd 0 0-0
Goals - Blacksburg: Shires, Warren.
Assists - Blacksburg: Karmis, Cross.
Saves - Blacksburg: Baumgartner 7. William Byrd: Thompson 10.
Shots - Blacksburg 17, William Byrd 13.
by CNB