THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, October 4, 1995 TAG: 9510040468
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JAMI FRANKENBERRY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 51 lines
Gabe Valencia is a well-traveled 17-year-old.
Son of Venezuelan parents, he was born in Sweden and lived in Philadelphia before moving to Chesapeake two months ago. He has also traveled to Bermuda and all over the United States as a member of the Richmond Capitals, an under-18 club soccer team.
So it was no surprise when he decided to commute to Suffolk each day to attend Nansemond-Suffolk Academy.
``Nansemond-Suffolk has a great environment,'' Valencia said. ``The academics were important and I figured I could help out the soccer team. N-SA has been perfect for me.''
The Nansemond-Suffolk soccer team would agree.
Valencia has sparked the Saints to a 3-0 start in the Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools and an 8-3 record overall through Tuesday's 4-3 win over Norfolk Christian. Last year, N-SA was 1-8 in the conference and 4-14 overall.
Last week the Saints upset then-unbeaten Norfolk Collegiate 3-1 in a non-conference game last Tuesday and followed that with a 3-1 win over defending TCIS champion Hampton Roads Academy on Thursday.
Valencia scored a goal against the Oaks and tallied a hat trick against the Navigators to earn Virginian-Pilot male athlete of the week honors.
``I was playing more offensive-minded in those games,'' Valencia said. ``I thought that we needed to jump out on those teams quick and the more offense the better.''
Saints coach Tom Gill said he expected to see Valencia step up in N-SA's big games.
``Both Collegiate and Hampton Roads have some star players that really can play in his league,'' Gill said. ``When he gets around those players he really picks his game up.''
Valencia, who goes to Richmond to play for the Capitals twice a week, is expected to make another move next year - to Division I college soccer. His preferred list includes Virginia, Columbia, Boston University and Clemson, but the 6-foot-2 senior says he'll worry about that after the TCIS soccer season ends.
``For now, I'm more interested in leading this team to the TCIS championship and concentrating on schoolwork,'' he said. ``College will come.'' by CNB