DATE: Saturday, September 13, 1997          TAG: 9709130677

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C5   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY KENNAN NEWBOLD, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: NORFOLK                           LENGTH:   40 lines

OT RULES AT STIHL SOCCER CLASSIC AS COLUMBIA, ARMY GRAB WINS THE LIONS' GOAL 8:29 INTO SUDDEN DEATH DOWNS ODU.

The first two games of the ODU Stihl Soccer Classic on Friday night ended 2-1, with winning goals scored in the first period of sudden-death overtime by the Army Cadets and the Columbia Lions.

In its first-ever game against Old Dominion, Columbia scored the winning goal with 8:29 left in sudden-death overtime to claim victory.

Running on to a long cross from the corner, Columbia junior midfielder Greg Smalling headed the ball into the top corner of the goal and put an end to the Monarchs' two-game winning streak.

Both teams played a slow, controlled first half, picking up speed and momentum after the game's first goal by Columbia forward Khouri Mullings during the first minute of the second half.

ODU midfielder Patrick Halter evened the score with 25 minutes left in the game when he headed in a corner kick from the goal's far post.

More than 1,100 fans came out for what turned into a very physical match, marked by torn jerseys and strong man-to-man defense. Both ODU forward James Tanner and midfielder Mabricio Wilson came off the field with injuries.

In the first round of the Stihl Classic, Army beat Towson State 2-1 after junior midfielder Matt Shanahan scored with 3:47 left in sudden-death overtime.

Towson State took an early lead on a goal by Richie Moller in the first half. The Cadets tied the match in the second half, taking the teams into overtime.

ODU (2-1) will play Army (4-0) in the tournament's second round at 2:30 Sunday. Towson State (3-2) will play Columbia at noon. Both games will be played at the ODU soccer field. ILLUSTRATION: MARTIN SMITH-RODDEN/The Virginian-Pilot

Old Dominion's Mabricio Wilson, left, and Columbia's Gerry Karavitis

go airborne to head the ball during the first half of the Lions' 2-1

overtime win Friday at the ODU soccer stadium.

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