THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 3, 1995 TAG: 9502020154
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 17 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, BEACON SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 92 lines
STANDING BEFORE A crowd of more than 7,000 screaming basketball fans, four former Beach field hockey players realized the culmination of dreams that first entered their minds years and years ago.
As young rookies to the game, they and most other Beach players' only thoughts of ever winning a national collegiate championship came from the slim hopes they might one day play for Old Dominion University.
But during is heyday, ODU featured only two starters from the area. And now, the Monarchs are no longer queens of the hill.
Ironically, these four former All-Beach players helped make it that way, and are strutting the halls of a snow-bound campus in Harrisonburg showing off their NCAA championship watches and rings.
Even though they were looked at by the ODU coaching staff, Eileen Arnaldo, Holly Garriott, Heather Hoehlein and Kelly McDonald chose to go to James Madison University - home of the new NCAA national champions.
The Dukes were honored at halftime of a recent home basketball game against the University of Richmond.
They were honored by the school, by the fans, by the NCAA and by the Virginia House of Delegates.
``They are all very nice girls, good athletes and we're all very proud of them,'' Virginia Beach Delegate Bob Tata said.
Tata and Delegate Clinton Miller of Woodstock in the Shenandoah area submitted a House Joint Resolution commending the Dukes for their accomplishment.
The resolution was read during the halftime ceremony.
``This was one of the most incredible, important things that has happened in my life,'' said Arnaldo, who finished her career at JMU with a host of individual honors. ``It felt great knowing that your school supports you in winning a championship.''
Arnaldo was named to the All-Tournament team, capping a distinguished list of awards. The former Kempsville standout was named to the All-American second team, the All-South region first team, the All-CAA first team and the North-South Senior All-Star game.
``She did a great job for us these past four years,'' said coach Christy Morgan, who played on ODU's national championship teams in 1982, 1983 and 1984. With the title, Morgan became the first in NCAA history to win a national title as both a player and a coach.
``Eileen is a coach's dream. We will miss her, and it's great that she was able to be a part of a championship team.''
Arnaldo finished her career with 23 goals and 11 assists.
Hoehlein and McDonald brought a winning attitude to JMU, having won Group AAA state championships at Cox.
Hoehlein - a junior - was named to the NCAA's National Academic team. She started in all 24 contests as a defensive player at right back and managed to score one goal with six assists.
``Heather really played outstanding in the championship game,'' Morgan said. ``Her play was critical.''
McDonald - a sophomore - played in 19 games and started six. She played in all three zones of the field at one point or another, but excelled in her natural midfielder position.
``That will always be my favorite,'' she said. ``But it really didn't matter (playing those other positions) this year, because this was such a great team to play on. Being honored at that basketball game and then the awards banquet afterward was really something special.
``We all thought we could win the title and Christy talked about it when we got the season started. You know, you think you can win, but to talk like you are is something else. But as it got closer and closer in the tournament games, we all started to really believe we could.
``We all think we can win it again next year.''
Part of the reason for the confidence is the work ethic Morgan has instilled in her team.
For Garriott, a freshman out of Kempsville, that commitment is part of the reason she picked JMU.
``I knew Christy was the coach for me,'' she said. ``It doesn't matter whether we're training, or in practice, or in a game, the intensity is always 100 percent. It's incredible to be on a team with this kind of intensity, especially when it's at that level all the time.
``Winning the title was fantastic, but the greatest feeling was to learn that hard work really does pay off.''
And that it is equally rewarded. ILLUSTRATION: Heather Hoehlein from Cox
Eileen Arnaldo from Kempsville1
Holly Garriott from Kempsville
Kelly McDonald from Cox
by CNB