ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, May 23, 1996 TAG: 9605230101
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: E-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOHN A. MONTGOMERY SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES
THE yardstick that most soccer communities use to gauge the success of their youth programs is the level of interest shown by college recruiters.
In that regard, the Roanoke Valley is gaining ground on the traditional state leaders, Northern Virginia and the Richmond area. More than 25 Roanoke Star alumni - "graduates'' of the Roanoke Valley Youth Soccer Club - are playing college soccer, but that number could be equaled by those finishing high school in 1996 alone.
Students representing a number of schools in the valley - and the surrounding region - have earned scholarships and financial aid opportunities to play soccer at various colleges next year. At least five individuals, all affiliated with the Star Under-18 teams, have signed with NCAA Division I colleges. Many others will play for Division III schools, such as Roanoke College.
Tait Duus (Cave Spring High School) and Mark Wise (North Cross) have committed to the University of Richmond; Brian Sharp (Cave Spring) is headed to Virginia Tech; and Lynchburg's Russell Hutchison (a student at E.C. Glass who commutes to Roanoke several times a week to play with the Star's U-18 white team) has signed with the University of Maine. Patrick Henry's Carrie Moore, perhaps the best girls' player ever to emerge from Roanoke, has earned a full scholarship to William and Mary.
``It's really been a good senior year; the hard work has paid off,'' said Sharp, who last Thursday scored the winning goal on a penalty kick with 30 seconds remaining in the Roanoke Valley District tournament championship game. Sharp gave Cave Spring a 3-2 victory over Patrick Henry, lifting the Knights' season record to 14-1, the school's most wins ever.
Moore scored both goals in the girls' district championship game, which was also played last Thursday, as PH defeated Cave Spring 2-0. "[The district championship game] was really close,'' said Cave Spring's Natalie Newman, who intends to play soccer at Roanoke College in the fall. ``From a skill level, the teams were even - except that PH has Carrie, and we don't have anybody like her.''
Although the high school season is played in the spring, club soccer runs year-round, featuring a number of tournaments that give players additional opportunities to hone their skills. Newman, who began playing soccer in the third grade, estimates she has played more than 500 games - at all levels combined - in her career, and she's developed an addiction to the game.
``I love playing soccer and I don't want to quit when I finish high school,'' Newman said, explaining one lure of the college level. ``Soccer is a continuous game; you never stop, even on out-of-bounds plays. Soccer takes a lot of mental skill, as well as physical stamina.''
Cave Spring's Andy Newton also will play soccer for Roanoke College. ``The school's academics and their financial [aid] offer made my decision easy,'' he said. Although Division III schools cannot offer athletic scholarships, various forms of financial aid will cover nearly 75 percent of Newton's college costs, which will approach $20,000 a year.
Newton believes the camaraderie and teamwork that developed years ago among this year's graduating class is responsible for so many players taking their skills to college. ``Every five or six years, it seems you have a strong class of players,'' Newton said. "Most of us have been playing [for the Star] since we were U-13s. When you start out young together, you can help each other. I hear the U-13s are pretty strong this year, too.''
``We've been spoiled because we've always been really good,'' said David Levan, from North Cross. Levan has a twin brother, Mark, who plays for Patrick Henry. Although the Levans have been teammates in the Star, they have played against each other on the high school level. Neither Levan has made a final college decision yet, although several options are available.
``Wherever I decide to go, I'm going to try to play soccer,'' Mark Levan said.
Northside's Chris Lucado, a key offensive player for the Vikings, will be playing soccer at Queens College (Division III) in Charlotte, N.C. Lucado narrowed his choices to Queens and Methodist College in Fayetteville, N.C., but ultimately chose the school that is awarding him $7,050 of yearly grant money. ``We were really pleased with the offer,'' said his father, Mike Lucado.
``Our main goal is to develop soccer players,'' said Star executive director Danny Beamer. ``The way you judge how you're doing is how many kids are still playing soccer after you're done with them. We've achieved pretty quickly a higher level of play.''
LENGTH: Medium: 96 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ERIC BRADY Staff 1. Andy Newton of Cave Spring willby CNBcontinue his soccer career next fall at Roanoke College.
2. Carrie Moore (left), a senior at Patrick Henry, will be
heading to William and Mary on a full soccer scholarship this fall.
3. Brian Sharp (above), who lifted Cave Spring to victory over
Patrick Henry in the Roanoke Valley District tournament championship
game, has signed with Virginia Tech.
4. Cave Spring's Natalie Newman plans to play soccer this fall
for Roanoke College. 5. Mark Levan, a senior at Patrick Henry,
hasn't decided where he'll attend college. color.