ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, November 9, 1996 TAG: 9611110108
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DANIEL UTHMAN STAFF WRITER
THE ROANOKE CATHOLIC alumnus found a special place on the soccer field at Roanoke College.
When he graduated from Roanoke Catholic three-and-a-half years ago, P.J. McCarthy didn't intend on being in his current position, which is as a forward for the Roanoke College men's soccer team.
McCarthy didn't intend on playing soccer at college and he wasn't even headed for Roanoke College. He was packing his bags for James Madison University, where he would spend 11/2 soccer-less years.
``I was looking for a break,'' he said.
As he spent more time away from the sport, he started looking for a way to play again. He found a willing and eager coach in Roanoke's Scott Allison, who had recruited him hard in high school.
As he prepares for his post-collegiate soccer life, McCarthy says he found a home with the Maroons, and that's not just because he's the only player that actually lives at home with his parents, Pat and Mary.
McCarthy was named the Old Dominion Athletic Conference player of the week on Monday after helping Roanoke to two victories that clinched the top seed in the league's tournament. He had an eight-game scoring streak to go with Roanoke's 11-game winning streak before Friday's semifinal. Although the Maroons lost 2-1 to Washington and Lee, a second-half assist kept his scoring streak alive.
After a 1-3 start, the Maroons' victories started rolling in when Allison moved McCarthy from midfielder to forward to take advantage of his ballhandling skills. McCarthy, Roanoke's leading scorer with 23 points, has made his home there.
``He gives us somebody to hold onto the ball,'' Allison said.
McCarthy gave Allison a nice surprise Oct.5 when he organized a celebration at Lynchburg College for Allison's 100th victory.
McCarthy tries to make children feel at home when he's not playing or studying. He helps Roanoke assistant and Patrick Henry High School coach Ed McMichael with a local 9-and-under team, and two days a week tutors a fourth-grader at Huff Lane Elementary School.
``We go out of the classroom,'' said McCarthy, an English major with a grade point average in the vicinity of 3.5. ``There's 25 kids in the class and sometimes it's difficult to feel important if you don't have good grades. He knows he's important with me.''
McCarthy's play has been just as important to the Maroons this season.
``When I left high school, I thought that was it,'' McCarthy said. ``I'm glad I played a few seasons. And I'm definitely glad it's been at Roanoke.''
LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshot) McCarthyby CNB