THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, April 24, 1996 TAG: 9604240552
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: FROM STAFF REPORTS
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Short : 47 lines
Fighting a swirling wind, the Cox girls might have wanted a better day to play soccer, but they couldn't have asked for a prettier goal.
That goal was all the host Falcons needed to beat Kempsville 1-0 in a Beach District game between the areas top-ranked teams in this week's Virginian-Pilot coaches' poll. With the win, No. 1 ranked Cox improves to 7-2 overall and 4-0 in the district. No. 2 Kempsville is 3-3-2, 2-2.
The Falcons scored their only goal midway through the second half when junior midfielder Erica Webb headed in Natalie Stumpf's corner kick, the third time Cox has been successful with that play this season.
``It was a gorgeous kick,'' Webb said. ``She had some gorgeous ones before, but this time I just went up and saw the ball.''
Stumpf said she and Webb have played together for years, and have the kind of timing that makes scoring off the corner work. ``She knows where I'm going with it,'' she said. ``We like to try and call it.''
The kick was perfectly placed and difficult to defend, said Kempsville keeper Sarah Willis. ``I was flat-footed,'' she said. ``I should have had that goal, but I couldn't get up for it.''
Cox outshot Kempsville 15-3, Willis recording nine saves. The Falcons also had the edge on corner kicks 5-2.
The Falcons dominated possession early, and Kempsville coach Ed Hackett said his team remained in the game after a scoreless first half. But the Falcons made better adjustments at halftime, opting for ball control in an attempt to contain some of the sloppy play generated by the wind.
``We weren't finishing in the box,'' Hackett said. ``Cox played great. It sure looked like they wanted it more than we did.''
- VICKI L. FRIEDMAN ILLUSTRATION: CHRISTOPHER REDDICK
Virginian-Pilot photos
At top, Cox's Erica Webb sends a header past Kempsville's Sarah
Willis for the only goal of the showdown between the top-ranked
Falcons girls and No. 2 Chiefs. At bottom, Webb's teammates
appreciate her work.
by CNB