
                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, June 17, 1994                    TAG: 9406170700 
SECTION: SPORTS                     PAGE: C6    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: 940617                                 LENGTH: VIRGINIA BEACH

HURRICANES WILL HOST SOCCER ALL-STAR GAME JULY 6

{LEAD} Aided by their impressive opening-season attendance, the Hampton Roads Hurricanes have been chosen to host the U.S. Interregional Soccer League's All-Star Game. The game will be July 6 at the Center for Effective Learning.

The USISL will use an unusual format for its all-star game: A group of Atlantic Division all-stars will meet an all-star team made up of the remainder of the league.

{REST} ``It's being set up this way for two reasons,'' Hurricanes general manager Shawn McDonald said. ``First, the Atlantic Division has the league's defending champion and is generally regarded as the toughest division, top to bottom, in the league. Second, we can cut the travel expenses by having one of the teams travel regionally rather than having them come in from all over the country.''

The Hurricanes are averaging 3,048 over six home dates. While the USISL does not keep league-wide attendance records, Hampton Roads is believed to be the league leader.

The date for the game will not compete with any of the dates of the World Cup, which begins today and is being played over the next month throughout the U.S.

Second-round play in the World Cup runs July 2-5, while the quarterfinals do not begin until July 10.

Greensboro coach Michael Parker will be head coach of the Atlantic Division All-Stars with Hampton Roads Hurricanes coach Sonny Travis serving as assistant coach. The league-wide all-stars will be coached by Orlando Lions coach Mark Dillon.

McDonald said he thought the Hurricanes with the best chances of making the Atlantic Division team were midfielder Mark Waite, defenseman Neil Mason and goalie Tim Figureido.

McDonald said Greensboro would have been another likely host for the event.

But since the Greensboro franchise, as defending league champion, will host the season-ending Sizzlin' Nine playoffs, the league looked elsewhere.

``I don't think they wanted Greensboro hosting everything,'' McDonald said.

The all-star teams will be announced early next week.

CORNER KICKS: Forward Ian Spooner, who scored twice in Hampton Roads' 4-1 victory last week over the Columbia Heat, will miss this weekend's games at Charlotte tonight and at home Saturday night against Charleston with a leg injury. ... Charlotte is 6-0 at home this season. ... Goalie Scott Budnick will not make the trip to Charlotte, staying at home instead to rest up for a starting call in Saturday's game. Pete Sadin will be activated for tonight's game and will back up Figureido in goal against Charlotte.

by CNB