THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 10, 1995 TAG: 9505100637
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PATTI WALSH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 56 lines
Salem's Erin Hirschi is growing accustomed to getting her team out of hairy situations.
In last Tuesday's girls soccer matchup against Kellam, the sophomore scored two goals for a come-from-behind 4-1 victory.
``I thought we were going to lose when they scored on us first,'' said Hirschi, who has 10 goals this season. ``But the shots just went in the goal.''
Friday, the Sun Devils found themselves in another sticky mess, playing First Colonial, which was ranked third in South Hampton Roads at the time. To be assured a spot in the Beach District tournament, which the Sun Devils failed to make last season, they had to come out on top.
Again, Hirschi was razor-sharp. She netted what proved to be the game-winner at the 33rd minute when she connected from 18 yards out on a through ball from Julie Miller.
``It was our last home game of the season,'' Hirschi said. ``We were the underdogs, and nobody expected us to win.
``It was really fun. It was really exciting. I've never had that feeling before.''
Added Van Oekel: ``It was a beautiful shot. It was picture-perfect. She's young, she's incredibly fast and she's a finisher. She knows how to score.''
While Van Oekel wasn't at all surprised that his Sun Devils scored the upset behind Hirschi's goal, she remains in awe and says the defense was the deciding factor.
``Yeah, the forwards score the goals,'' she said, ``but it was our defense that really won the game. They played excellent.''
Excellent enough to hold off the Patriots for another half as they launched 28 shots to the Sun Devils' 13.
``We got the one that counted,'' Van Oekel said.
The win, which pushed Salem up to No. 5 in the area rankings, earned Hirschi The Virginian-Pilot and The Ledger-Star's female Athlete of the Week award and sent Van Oekel home with a chill. It wasn't only because the Sun Devils got their first-ever victory over the Patriots, but because he had to shave his head.
``We had a bet,'' Hirschi said with a laugh.
And just as Hirschi and the Sun Devils came through, so did Van Oekel.
``There's going to be nothing left pretty soon,'' said Van Oekel, rubbing his shaven head and his goatee, which could also could come off with an upset over Cox on Friday. ``But, the season's almost over.'' ILLUSTRATION: ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
Erin Hirschi
Salem
by CNB