DATE: Tuesday, September 16, 1997           TAG: 9709160437

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C6   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                    LENGTH:   42 lines

NO-OFFSIDES RULE HELPS AN OFFENSIVE FORCE BLOOM

Sally Scarborough has long enjoyed the sight of forward Lauren Sparrow breaking in on an opponent's goal.

The Salem field hockey coach is enjoying it even more now that Sparrow is bringing the ball with her.

This detail, and a new no-offsides rule, has turned Sparrow into a surprising potent offensive force for the fast-starting Sun Devils.

The senior's four-goal barrage against Thomas Jefferson Saturday gave her 13 in Salem's six games - all victories. That's five more than she scored all of last season, four less than Salem's entire team total of a year ago.

``It's shocking,'' Sparrow said.

Scarborough isn't surprised, though. She knew Sparrow had the requisite toughness to handle the featured scoring role. During last year's National Hockey Festival in Florida, Sparrow suffered a concussion after taking a shot in her right temple. Doctors told her not to play sports for three months. Sparrow played - and scored - in a game the following day.

``That wasn't too smart,'' she said.

The coach also knew Sparrow would benefit from the no-offsides policy, which allows offensive players without the ball to position themselves behind defenders. The rule is a boon to fast players and few are faster than Sparrow - she posted the best 40-yard dash time at an 80-player Junior Olympic tryout camp.

As a junior, though, Sparrow's speed sometimes betrayed her.

``She'd go so fast she'd lose the ball,'' Scarborough said.

But a summer of working on ballhandling skills has apparently paid off. Sparrow spent her break attending three field hockey camps. Between camps, she'd dribble around in her backyard.

``With Lauren, it's always been just a matter of her controlling her speed,'' Scarborough said.

Evidently, everything is now under control. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

Lauren Sparrow has 13 goals in Salem's six games - all victories.

That's five more than she scored all of last season.

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