THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 24, 1994 TAG: 9407240233
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C13 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
The Hampton Roads Hurricanes backed into the playoffs Saturday night, getting by with a little help from the Charleston Battery.
While the Hurricanes were losing, 3-1, to the Greensboro Dynamo, the Battery were beating the Washington Mustangs, 1-0.
The Hurricanes would have made the playoffs outright with a victory. After the loss, in front of 2,756 at the Center for Effective Learning, Hampton Roads was left to play the waiting game.
``It's good to have your fate in your own hands,'' said sweeper Joey Lenard. ``But all we can do now is wait.''
The Hurricanes had to wait only 30 minutes for a verdict.
Hampton Roads is fourth in the Atlantic Division and can finish no lower than fifth, which puts them in the four-team divisional playoffs. Atlantic Division regular-season champion Greensboro has a bye to the U.S. Interregional League's ``Sizzlin' Nine'' championship tournament as defending league champion.
The Hurricanes will travel to play either Charleston or Charlotte next weekend in the opening round of the playoffs. Raleigh will receive the other playoff berth.
Greensboro (15-3) was in the scoring column first in the seventh minute as Michael Gailey collected the ball at the top of the box, chipped to Eddie Radwanski on the right flank and Radwanski coaxed Hampton Roads goalie Tim Figureido out just enough, finding Carlos Garcia racing up the middle. Garcia was left to chip the ball unmarked into the goal.
Hampton Roads (10-8) evened matters midway through the first half on a goal by Blake Rogers.
Greensboro, however, broke on top early in the second half when Radwanski's corner kick from the right side curled in and Maher Atta, up from his defender's position, got just enough of his head on it to nudge it by Figureido.
``That's why Radwanski was the USISL's MVP last year,'' Hurricanes coach Sonny Travis said.
The Hurricanes were left playing catchup and had their best opportunity to tie matters when Greensboro committed its seventh foul of the second half with just over 10 minutes remaining. Hampton Roads sent Mark Waite out to take the shootout attempt, an experimental rule in the USISL in which the player takes off unmarked from the 35-yard line with only the goalie to beat.
But Waite was thwarted when the lefty shot from the top of the box in an attempt to go far corner. Greensboro keeper Heaney, coming out to cut off Waite, deflected the ball just enough for Greensboro to maintain its advantage.
Hampton Roads' chances received two major blows in the second half. Rogers had to pull himself from the game, suffering double vision caused by a first-half collision. Pratt came out later when an aggravated hamstring pull flared up.
The Hurricanes shifted to a three forward front in the last 10 minutes, but to no avail and it eventually aided in Greensboro's third goal, scored when Jimmy Glenn coaxed Figureido to the top of the box, then shuffled a pass to Jason Haupt for the score.
Greensboro Dynamo li 1 2 - 3
Hampton Roads Hurricanes li 1 0 - 1
Goals: 1, Greensboro, Garcia (Radwanski), 4:27; 2, Hampton Roads, Rogers (unassisted), 15:36; 3, Greensboro, Atta (Radwanski), 31:13; 4, Greensboro, Haupt (Glenn), 57:11.
Shots on goal: Greensboro 5-8-13, Hampton Roads 5-6-11.
Saves: Greensboro, Heaney 4-6-10; Hampton Roads, Figureido 4-6-10.
Fouls: Greensboro 5-8-13, Hampton Roads 3-2-5.
A: 2,756. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
JOSEPH JOHN KOTLOWSKI
Greensboro Dynamo's Michael Gailey, in foreground, heads the ball in
front of the Hurricanes' Greg Richards on Saturday.
by CNB