THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 26, 1996 TAG: 9605240202
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 28 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Sports
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, BEACON SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: 36 lines
Now that Beach soccer teams have swept all four Eastern Region berths, the true test begins.
It's no secret that the rivalry between teams from the Beach and Northern Virginia is fierce, and there's no reason to believe this year will be any different.
As of Thursday's deadline for this article, it hadn't been determined which Beach teams would be traveling and which ones would stay. The opponents from the North had yet to be decided, either.
But one thing is clear, the battle for state bragging rights begins Tuesday.
Kellam and Kempsville were to go at it in the boys region championship Friday, while Cox and Kempsville met for the third time in the girls contest.
Both losers hit the road Tuesday morning.
The boys will travel to face either Herndon or Fairfax, while the girls will take on either West Springfield or Robinson. Friday's winners will host the Northern losers.
Fairfax - like Kellam - is a first-timer to state competition and both can play like they have nothing to lose. Herndon has been there before, and Kempsville last won state titles in 1991 and 1992.
The Cox girls made it to last year's final four. The Falcons and Chiefs will face a much tougher road than the boys, as West Springfield is the defending state champion and Robinson won the year before.
The times and sites for Tuesday's games at the Beach were to be determined after Friday's outcomes. However, any games involving Kempsville teams will be played at Ocean Lakes. Kellam has said that it would like to hold the game on the Knights' home field should the team defeat Kempsville. by CNB