DATE: Friday, September 12, 1997            TAG: 9709120827

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C6   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE                        LENGTH:   44 lines

OSCAR SMITH'S THORPE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF RULE CHANGE

Oscar Smith's Joetta Thorpe sprints through field hockey games as though there was a finish line at the end of the field, throws head fakes that would make an NBA point guard proud and even tosses in an occasional bunny hop in mid-stride to maneuver past an opponent's stick.

Technically sound? Well, she's only been playing the sport for about a year. But when it comes to explosiveness, instincts and flat-out speed, Joetta is a real go-getta.

Especially this season, now that the high schools have followed the colleges in abandoning the offside rule. Previously, there had to be at least two defenders between an attacking player without the ball and the opponent's goal. Now, attackers can roam freely behind defenses, which has led to a more wide-open game.

``Any time the goalie has to keep an eye on an extra player while she's waiting for a shot, it is distracting,'' said Sarah Taylor, coach of Kempsville's Group AAA state championship team. ``Usually a center forward likes to hang up the field, but they couldn't just camp there before.

``Now you can actually get a fastbreak going. If you have a really quick player who is already up the field and you can get her the ball in a hurry, it certainly can increase your chances of scoring.''

In other words, the rule change was made with players like Thorpe in mind, even if this concept's been one of the few things to go right past her. ``Offsides or no offsides, it doesn't really matter to me,'' she said.

The change hasn't altered Thorpe's play, just legalized it. She had three goals wiped out last year for being offside.

Nor does it ensure she can dominate play. In Tuesday's 1-0 victory against Deep Creek, Thorpe had a goal disallowed because her stick was too high, fanned on another scoring attempt and failed to convert several other scoring chances.

But even when she's unable to shoot, one can't help but marvel at the way Thorpe can scoot. ILLUSTRATION: MARTIN SMITH-RODDEN/The Virginian-Pilot

Heather Niedermeier, left, celebrates after a point with Deep Creek

volleyball teammate Tabitha Mason during the Hornets' 11-15, 15-10,

15-4 loss to Western Branch on Thursday night.

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu