THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 28, 1996 TAG: 9603280514
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY REA FARMER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Long : 111 lines
The Hampton Roads Mariners are playing a waiting game.
With the season opener just 10 days away, the Mariners have signed 12 players and are practicing with 15-17 daily. Coach Shawn McDonald is waiting until the players who are cut from Major League Soccer trickle down to the United Systems of Independent Soccer Leagues before cementing his final roster.
The MLS had its first major cut Monday, with the final rosters to be set within a month.
``The main problem is with Major League Soccer; a lot of people have made later commitments,'' McDonald said. ``There's still going to be an influx of players out there in the market looking for a team. There will be some more players coming in the next month from MLS. It's nerve-racking that we don't have our complete team, but if we don't leave spots open we could lose some very good players. Right now, I'd say we're three or four players from being outstanding.''
Not to say that the Mariners aren't competitive right now. After playing a few ``practice games'' against USISL opponents, McDonald is confident his team is keeping pace with the competition.
``We've been having some friendly practice games, and our results have been fair,'' McDonald said. ``I'd say we're at a point where we're a little ahead of some teams and even with other teams. I don't think we're behind anyone.''
MEET THE MARINERS: On Sunday, McDonald introduces his team at the inaugural Meet the Mariners Day.
Fans are invited to the event, slated for 2 p.m. at First Colonial High, the Mariners' home playing field. Players will be introduced to the crowd and will autograph player cards. A full-dress practice will be held with McDonald narrating action. Food will be provided and admission is free.
THAT'S THE TICKET: Hampton Roads Mariners 1996 season tickets are now on sale.
Season tickets are $60 for adults (28 games), $50 for children under 12 or $240 for a family pack (two adults, three youths). Individual game tickets are $6 for adults, $5 for youth, senior citizens and active military. To purchase season tickets, call 464-6257.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR: On April 27, the Mariners host the 1996 U.S. Olympic soccer team at First Colonial at 7:30 p.m. Last season, the Mariners defeated the Under-23 national squad 2-0. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 children 12-and-under.
FOREIGN INFLUENCES: McDonald has added a foreign flavor to the Mariners with the recent addition of Bulgarians Stilian Shishkov and Tony Velkov.
Shishkov, a forward from Sofia, Bulgaria, played for the Division II Lander University in South Carolina. He led Division II in scoring the past two seasons and was an NCAA All-American. He has been selected to play on the 1996 Bulgarian National team.
Velkov, a defender also from Sofia, spent eight season with Sofia-Locamotiv of Bulgaria's First Division. He has also been a member of the country's national squad.
RULES, RULES, RULES: The USISL is adopting MLS's points system and eliminating the assessment of blue cards for personal fouls and a live shootout after the seventh foul in the half.
In an effort to bring the league more in line with MLS, three points will be awarded for a win in regulation or overtime, one point for a shootout victory and no points for a loss, even a shootout loss. The league returns to a 90-minute clock controlled by a timekeeper off the field.
TRYOUT CHANGED: The Hampton Roads Pirahnas of the United States Women's Interregional Soccer League have changed the time of their tryouts. The April 1 and 2 sessions will be held at 5 p.m. at Lake Taylor High. For more info, call Marcie Laumann at 468-0696. ILLUSTRATION: ``There will be some more players coming in the next month,''
coach Shawn McDonald said.
MARINERS' SCHEDULE
All Mariners home games are at First Colonial High, 1272 Mill Dam
Road in Virginia Beach. Time is 7:30 p.m. unless noted.
Home games in CAPS.
Information: 464-6257, 464-1021 or call Infoline: 640-5555
(GOAL)
Sat., 4/6 at Charleston
Sat., 4/13 BALTIMORE
Fri., 4/19 at Wilmington
Sat., 4/20 WASHINGTON
Sat., 4/27 U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM
Sat., 5/4 at Delaware
Sun., 5/5 LONG ISLAND, 5p.m.
Sat., 5/11 at LongIsland
Sat., 5/18 CAROLINA
Sat., 5/25 TAMPA
Wed., 5/29 at Roanoke
Fri., 5/31 CHARLESTON
Fri., 6/7 SOUTH CAROLINA
Fri., 6/14 LEXINGTON
Sat., 6/15 WILMINGTON
Wed., 6/19 at Richmond
Sat., 6/22 NEW YORK
Sat., 6/29 RICHMOND
Wed., 7/3 ROANOKE
Sat., 7/6 at Tampa
Thu., 7/11 RALEIGH
Sat., 7/13 at Raleigh
Fri., 7/19 at CapeCod
Sat., 7/20 at Connecticut
Fri., 7/26 BIRMINGHAM
Wed., 7/31 RICHMOND
Sat., 8/3 at Carolina
Sun., 8/4 at South Carolina
Fri., 8/9 DELAWARE
by CNB