Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 24, 1994 TAG: 9403240051
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: By BRIAN DeVIDO STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Call off the dogs.
Honest, worse things have happened in the history of modern civilization.
But the Blacksburg High School boys' soccer team, rich in tradition, always stocked with talent, faces a serious challenge this year: defending its Group AA state title.
That's not the only pressure the 1994 Indians face.
Blacksburg has made the semifinals in all five years of the Group AA state soccer tournament. Three times, the Indians have been in the championship game. Twice, they've won it.
"The guys know that several challenges are ahead," Blacksburg coach Shelley Blumenthal said. "One of them is to fill the holes of the players lost."
The Indians, who finished last season with an 18-0-2 mark, return six starters. Two of them are all-state selections.
Senior sweeper Michael Dowdy, a first-team all-state selection, and senior fullback Jason Boyle, a second-team all-state selection, are the top two returners. Other returning starters for the Indians: senior midfielder Jim Sarver, junior fullback John Freeman, junior midfielder Mark Decker and senior midfielder Gregg Adamo.
Gone are two first-team all-state selections in Todd Lyons and Chris Evans. Also gone is goalie Kevin Schug, who allowed but three goals in 20 games.
But the Indians returned only three starters the past two seasons, so Blumenthal is optimistic.
"I think there's reason to believe that we'll be more motivated [this year], because people are going to be motivated to play us," he said. "They circle those game dates on the calendar."
Three players will battle to fill Blacksburg's most important hole: Goalie. Sophomore Ben Pinkerton and senior Chris Akins saw playing time last year, and senior Todd Perdue, a football and basketball star, has come out for the team and may see some playing time.
The Indians won't need much to get motivated. The schedule is typically brutal: Five games against Group AAA schools (Patrick Henry, Cave Spring, Pulaski County, E.C. Glass and Hertiage), and a meeting with Virginia Independent Conference power North Cross.
Also in the New River District:
\ Christiansburg played Blacksburg five times last year, and lost all five meetings. The Blue Demons finished runner-up in the district and region to the Indians, and made it to the state semifinals before falling to who else - Blacksburg.
Six starters return from that team, including second-team all-state goalie Charlie Kreye, who led Christiansburg's run in the post-season. Senior forward Daniel Fisher and senior midfielder Chris Lisanti also return, and senior forward Sam Nokuri, a transfer who played for Blacksburg last year, will start.
"We've got a lot of good, young guys," said assistant coach Greg Paynter. "I'm looking for a lot of good stuff."
Radford couldn't lose outside the district last year, but they couldn't win inside it. The Bobcats finished 10-5, three losses coming to Christiansburg, all by 1-0 scores.
Senior forward Casey Underwood, a two-time all-state selection, will be Radford's go-to player. He has broken the school scoring record ever since his freshman year. Last season's output of 15 goals set a new standard at the school.
Senior fullback Cornell Wesley and sophomore midfielders Allen Cox and Kirk Perrow also lead the team.
In the Roanoke Valley District:
Pulaski County will field a young team that finished third in the district last year.
Junior goalie Shane Whitesell and senior midfielder Nathan Gessner lead the Cougars, who have but four players returning with any varsity experience.
Nevertheless, Cougars coach Keith Eck is not fazed.
"It they play the way I've seen them play in practice, then we can turn some heads and pull some upsets," Eck said.
Giles is one of only four teams in Group A, Region C. The Spartans reached the finals of that tournament last year, losing to George Wythe, and seven returners come back from that squad.
Senior goalie Stephen Stephens and sophomore midfielder Anthony Myers will lead Giles, which must play several Group AA powers this year.
"We want every team that plays us to have to play hard to have to beat us," Giles coach Neil Schmidt said. "There's going to be some days where we're drastically outmatched in talent."
by CNB