THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, March 8, 1995 TAG: 9503080647
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Short : 37 lines
Four former college soccer standouts, including two with U.S. National team experience, are the first players to sign professional contracts with the Hampton Roads Mariners, general manager Shawn McDonald announced Tuesday.
The players are midfielder Brandon Ward, forward Darren Eales, keeper Garth Lagerway and defender Chris Love.
McDonald expects to announce the signings of some local players within the next few days, and said that 90 percent of the players for the professional United Systems of Independent Soccer League team should be in place by the end of next week.
Ward, a three-time All-Big Ten selection from Indiana University and a 1994 U.S. National B Team member, is expected to anchor the midfield.
``He's a hardworking defensive midfielder with the ability of dominating a game,'' Mariners coach Sonny Travis said.
Lagerway recorded 19 shutouts as a four-year starter at Duke. He was also the starting keeper for the 1989-90 U.S. under-18 national team. Last summer, Lagerway played for the USISL's New Orleans Riverboat Gambler and posted a 1.15 goals-against average, third best in the 72-team league.
Eales, the 1994 Ivy League player of the year, scored 17 goals last season and led Brown to the NCAA tournament quarterfinals.
``He's a classy, versatile forward and a proven goal-scorer,'' McDonald said.
Love, a six-foot-tall defender from the University of Hartford, should provide a much-needed physical presence in the Mariners' backfield.
``He fills a real need for us,'' McDonald said. by CNB