Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, December 9, 1994 TAG: 9412100013
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium
There were no news conferences or signing ceremonies when soccer player Mark Peters decided he was coming to Virginia.
``They just called one day and said, `You're accepted, can we pencil you in?''' Peters, from Handley High School in Winchester, said. ``I didn't sign anything because there was nothing to sign. I wasn't getting any money.''
Peters was never heralded as the goalie who would preserve Virginia's string of NCAA final-four appearances, but that's where he's taken the Cavaliers, who meet Rutgers in the national semifinals today at 2 p.m. at Davidson College.
``You've got to be careful about pinching yourself,'' Peters, a redshirt junior, said. ``Goal-keeping is all about confidence. If you're like, `I can't believe I'm doing this; I can't believe I'm here,' then something's not right. You have to take the attitude of `I deserve this.'''
Peters, benched after the Cavaliers' 3-2 loss to Boston University in the season opener, has started the last 13 games and given up a total of two goals in the past four.
Peters had a career-high seven saves Sunday in a 4-1 victory over James Madison, a school that did not recruit him.
``I was interested in going to JMU,'' Peters said, ``but there was no real contact. I sent their coach [Tom Martin] a tape and letters. They sent back a form letter.''
Peters informed the JMU soccer office that he would be making a tour of the campus, but when he arrived in Harrisonburg, Martin was out of town.
``He probably had something else planned,'' Peters said. ``Or, at least I'd like to think so. I'd feel bad about myself if he didn't.
``I have nothing against their coach. I've never really met him. But, because I wasn't recruited by [the Dukes], I think I wanted to prove to him that I could play.''
Martin was complimentary of Peters' play Sunday and said Thursday that the Dukes did not take him lightly as a prospect.
``He had all the attributes of a good keeper,'' Martin said. ``It was just bad timing as far as we were concerned. We had four `keepers' in the program and all four were coming back [in 1992-93]. It wasn't a good match.
``If he were coming out this year, good heavens, we'd be all over him.''
Peters had been to Virginia's camp more than once and, while he wasn't at the top of UVa's recruiting list, coach Bruce Arena realized his potential.
``Once they get here, there is no difference between a scholarship player and a walk-on in our eyes,'' Arena said. ``A lot of players who came here as walk-ons are now starting for us.''
Arena admittedly was high on freshman Yuri Sagatov, who became the starter after the Boston University setback, and Sagatov remains prominent in the Cavaliers' plans.
``He needs to be stronger,'' Arena said. ``That's one thing that stands out about Mark - his strength. That and his athletic ability.''
Peters, listed at 6 feet 2 and 180 pounds, has lifted a team-high 325 pounds in the bench press. Only two other players have lifted as much as 300.
After being redshirted in 1992, Peters played a total of 52 minutes in two games last year, when he was the Cavaliers' No.3 goalie behind Jeff Causey and former Parade All-American Tom Henske.
``Causey is definitely a role model for me, both in his goalkeeping and his demeanor and where he's come from,'' Peters said. ``He wasn't heavily recruited and had to battle with another keeper and ended up playing big in the postseason. That's how I would like to do it.''
The picture obviously has become much brighter since September.
``The beginning of the year was such a nightmare,'' Peters said. ``Then, Yuri was playing pretty well and we weren't losing, so I had to wonder when I'd ever get to play again. But, as far as getting benched, I didn't sell myself short and say, `Well, I've had my shot.'''
Arena has admitted that he's probably given up on each of his players at some point.
``You have to be patient and that's probably one of my worst qualities,'' Arena said. ``Now, he's [Peters] a confident goal-keeper and he'll be as good as any goal-keeper in the final four.''
UVa vs. Rutgers
NCAA Division I soccer semifinal at Davidson, N.C., 2 p.m., HTS cable.
by CNB