THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, July 30, 1994 TAG: 9407300415
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines
When Englishman Wayne Pratt was preparing to head for the United States to play college soccer, he had two huge misconceptions.
``First, I thought it was a very violent society,'' Pratt said. ``I guess I watched too much television. But I also had two friends who'd gone to the U.S. on vacation. One was robbed, one was stabbed.''
The other misconception was that U.S. college soccer would be far behind his semipro league back home in Huddersfield, England.
``I thought I'd be playing in a cream-cheese league,'' said Pratt, 22.
First, he found out that everyone in the United States isn't a criminal. Then, while playing for Virginia Commonwealth University, he learned the level of soccer played in the Metro Conference isn't the equivalent of a pastry filling.
Of course, his opponents were just as surprised by Pratt, who led VCU in scoring his final two seasons and was an All-Metro selection as a senior.
Now, Pratt is playing a similar role for the Hampton Roads Hurricanes, who dive into the U.S. Interregional Soccer League playoffs tonight at 7:30 when they visit the Charleston Battery at Stoney Field in Charleston, S.C.
After the worst scoring drought of his career for the first nine games this season, Pratt has scored seven goals in the past 11 games to tie for the team lead with forward Ian Spooner.
Pratt has scored many of his goals through sheer cunning, raw speed and unflappable desire. The 5-foot-9, 152-pounder might look like a chihuahua, but he has a bulldog's mentality.
Leroi Wilson, a teammate of Pratt's both at VCU and with the Hurricanes, remembers the first time he saw Pratt at VCU.
``I was expecting this big, tall English guy and this very small, very pale, very quiet guy walks in,'' recalled Wilson, who roomed with Pratt. ``I thought, `Who is this little guy?' And he was nothing in practice. But when game time comes, Pratt performs.
``He's a defender's nightmare, the type of player who's always there. You think he won't get to a ball and he does. You think he won't score a goal and he will.''
Pratt chuckles when asked about his first year at VCU.
``You think I'm skinny now, I weighed 130 pounds back then,'' Pratt said. ``I was nothing but skin and bones. We had to play our first game against Liberty in 95-degree heat. I nearly dropped. I was used to playing in hail and snow.''
After finishing his VCU career in fall '92, Pratt served as an assistant coach while finishing work toward his recreation degree. Over the winter, he played indoor soccer for the Richmond Kickers and figured he'd play outdoors for the Kickers this summer.
But the Kickers didn't pay nearly as much offseason attention to Pratt as the Hurricanes.
``I think I made a good decision coming to the Hurricanes,'' Pratt said. ``The Kickers aren't in the playoffs; we are.''
Hurricanes coach Sonny Travis respects Pratt's abilities, but puts just as much weight in what Pratt does for teammates in a game.
``Pratty rubs off on the team,'' Travis said. ``He's intense. . . . He's hardnosed and doesn't back down from anyone.
``He's the kind of guy who has a future with the Hurricanes.''
Pratt intends to be around. With a student visa through 1996, he hopes to land a graduate assistant's coaching position - and keep playing for the Hurricanes. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by Jim Walker
"He's a defender's nightmere, the type of player who's always
there," teammate Leroi Wilson says about Wayne Pratt, right.
by CNB