Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 26, 1994 TAG: 9405260162
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOHN A. MONTGOMERY SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
But for Roanoke's 15-year-old Carrie Moore, there was no danger of misunderstanding. "Washington United" represented her second opportunity to travel abroad this spring.
In April, she went with her Patrick Henry High School Latin Club to Italy. Last week, she was playing soccer in Norway.
"I'm very lucky," Moore said.
Moore was one of 16 girls selected from U.S. Olympic Development Teams from Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia. The mid-Atlantic contingent traveled from Washington, D.C. to Bergen, Norway from May 11 through May 19.
This is the third consecutive year that Moore has been named to the Olympic Development Team. Last season, she was one of six Roanoke Star players selected.
In 1994, the Star placed seven starters (including Moore's younger brother, Landon) and seven alternates on various age-group teams.
Washington United was a composite team of U-15, U-16, and U-17 Olympic Development players. Eight members of the squad hail from Virginia. Moore was acquainted with three team members before the trip. "We were chosen by administrators of the ODP," Moore said.
Moore's team flew from Washington National Airport to Bergen via Newark, N.J. and Oslo. "We flew overnight across the ocean," Moore said.
Another American team, a group of 14-year-old boys from Princeton, N.J., boarded the plane in Newark.
Washington United dominated its competition. The team, which practiced with its hosts daily, played two games during the week, winning 3-0 and 13-1.
"I think they have soccer at our level in Norway," Moore said, diplomatically, "but not the teams we played."
Moore said many of the Norwegian players were unaccustomed to playing on grass. "They're used to playing on gravel," she said.
Moore, normally a center midfielder, played sweeper for Washington United and scored two goals in the 13-1 rout.
In addition to soccer and sightseeing, Moore experienced other aspects of the Norwegian lifestyle. "At 11 o'clock at night it was still light," she said. "It was real neat walking around then."
And the cuisine? "I ate traditional porridge one day, and I didn't like it too well. Our coach even ate some reindeer."
The Scandinavian junket was virtually all-expenses-paid. "The Norwegian government paid for our flight. Adidas paid for our clothing," Moore said, adding food and lodging was supplied by families of the Norwegian team members.
Moore said that while the Norway soccer players spoke fluent English, "the parents had a difficult time with it."
This weekend, Moore will be playing on familiar turf. As a member of the Roanoke Star U-16 women's team, coached by Steve Bodley, Moore will be one of the most prominent of the 2,500-plus players participating in the Crestar Festival Soccer tournament.
by CNB