Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, February 3, 1991                   TAG: 9102030302
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: C3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: MIAMI                                LENGTH: Short

MEOLA BACK IN GOAL FOR U.S.

The United States goalkeeper played his first competitive soccer match in nearly two months, allowing a last-minute goal as the U.S. lost to Switzerland 1-0 on Friday night.

Meola was released from Watford of the English second division in December after failing to become a regular. He then failed to hook on with a French club.

"I got depressed after that," said Meola, a Kearny, N.J., native who dropped out the University of Virginia to play professional soccer. "But I had to pull myself through it. I'm only 21 and I know I can still play. It would be much worse if I couldn't play any more."

Since he wasn't with a club, Meola's last game before Friday was the Americans' 1-0 loss at Portugal on Dec. 19.

"Things weren't working out in Europe and his game wasn't sharp," Gansler said. "But he sorted things out and played well in the Portugal game. Now he's a psychologically strong person."

Meola came home and started a rigorous workout program at a Syosset, N.Y., tennis club. Former disciples of the program, which is designed to improve quickness and reflexes, were tennis players Ivan Lendl, Martina Navratilova and Andre Agassi, and baseball player Howard Johnson.

Meola, who played goal in a 2-1 loss to Switzerland last June 2, was perfect Friday night until Adrian Knup scored off Herbert Baumann's corner kick in the final minute.