Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, May 22, 1990 TAG: 9005230487
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RAY COX SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
"People expect us to win," midfielder Darren Cross said.
"Kids in our school look at our scores and figure we're unbeatable," fullback Jon Bohland said.
Cautionary words have been spilling forth from the hot-footed Indians lately. The Group AA region IV champions have been warning anybody interested in listening that William Byrd, the Region III winner, is vastly improved from a year ago.
Should Blacksburg slip past Byrd, which beat Martinsville 1-0 in the Region III final game Friday, an uncertain fate awaits in the title game.
"We've heard Chancellor and Tabb are good, but beyond that, if we make it to the final, whomever we play will be pretty much a mystery at this point," Bohland said.
"People just don't realize that the real quality soccer is in Northern Virginia and Tidewater, not Region IV."
Perhaps he has a point, but there is one Region IV exception: those same Indians, also known as the defending state champs.
They've played like the defending champs, too.
"These kids have been focused from the first day of practice," assistant coach Shelley Blumenthal said.
While compiling a 20-game non-losing streak (the only blemish in this year's 14-0-1 campaign was a tie with Cave Spring), the Indians have steamrollered everything in their path. The composite tally reads 95 goals scored, 8 allowed.
The latest was a 7-0 demolition of Virginia High in the regional final. That was over a week ago. It's been a long wait to today's state semifinal at Byrd. Game time is 7 p.m.
"I just hope we can play like we belong on the same field with those guys," said Pat Johnson, Blacksburg cautious coach.
The real question is, can those guys play as though they belong on the same field as Blacksburg?
Blacksburg whipped Martinsville in last year's semifinal. The Indians have not played Byrd this year, but they have played perennial Roanoke private school power North Cross and beat the Raiders 3-1. A week and a half later, North Cross routed the previously undefeated Byrd Terriers 9-1 in the rain.
"Beating North Cross was a big, big win for us," said Bohland, who has seven goals and as many assists this season. "We have a rather heated rivalry and beating them felt real good."
It also developed immeasurable confidence in the Indians.
"They wanted us and they got us," North Cross coach Richard Cook said. "They just beat the heck out of us in the first half."
Such teams on Blacksburg's schedule as North Cross, Cave Spring and E.C. Glass of Lynchburg have helped the Indians keep a competitive edge. New River District programs are, for the most part, still developing.
So is Blacksburg, just at a higher level.
"We have continued to emphasize basics: playing good defense, moving the ball up and down the field under control, and trying to shoot better," Johnson said.
Defense and goal keeping have been Blacksburg trademarks. Finding a goal keeper to replace the graduated Tommy Howze was one of the major preseason tasks. Starter Eric Baumgartner (eight shutouts) and backup Travis Bishop have performed admirably.
Defenders Kurt Stromburg, Jason Decker, Andre Pyle, Andrew Shires, Matt Stinchcomb, Tommy Sarver, Bohland and Cross have been as impenetrable as a briar patch.
Blacksburg has also shown a lot of offense. Junior forward Nathan Warren set a school record with 20 goals to go with 10 assists.
"Everybody was pulling for Nathan to break the record," said Cross, who has 10 goals and eight assists himself. "There's been a lot of unselfish play here."
Another of the unselfish ones has been team assist leader John Cheynet with 13.
Warren, the point guard on the basketball team, can appreciate unselfishness.
"I attribute most of my success to the halfbacks, Darren and Andre," he said. "Most of the time, I turned around and the ball was there."
Don't be surprised if Blacksburg is in the state championship game when you turn around.
by CNB