Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 4, 1993 TAG: 9306040153
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-12 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: By BRIAN DeVIDO STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
It's late in the postseason, and the opponent, Christiansburg, is a team Blacksburg has beaten handily a few times this season.
Sounds a lot like last year.
In last year's Region 4 final, the Indians faced the Radford Bobcats, a team Blacksburg had already beaten three times.
After a scoreless regulation and overtime, the title was decided on penalty kicks.
Radford won.
This season, it's the same situation, but a different team. Christiansburg (12-6-1) advanced to tonight's Group AA state semifinals at Blacksburg with a stunning victory over William Byrd. The game was decided on penalty kicks.
Might it be a case of deja vu for Blacksburg? Or, since they're playing the Blue Demons, deja blue?
Blacksburg(16-0-2) has played Christiansburg four times this year, and has won all four meetings rather easily. Blumenthal is taking the conservative, one-game-at-a-time, approach.
"We've been fortunate to win the first four," he said.
Fortunate? The scores of those four meetings indicate otherwise.
There were 4-0 and 4-1 Blacksburg wins in the regular season. In the New River District final, the Indians won 6-0. The Region 4 final last week was even more lopsided, a 7-0 win for Blacksburg.
How can the Blue Demons expect to win?
"We've got to control the midfield," said junior goalie Charlie Kreye. "If we do that, we'll keep balls out of our area."
That would help Kreye. Blacksburg's offense is loaded, with players like senior forward Todd Lyons and senior midfielder Chris Evans leading the way.
Kreye was instrumental in leading his team to victory Tuesday night. He had 27 saves against Byrd, 16 in the second half.
"We've come into the [Blacksburg] games scared," he said. "It's been more of a mental thing than a physical thing. We need to pick up our intensity and play our game."
Intensity was what helped the Demons beat Byrd. After their loss to Blacksburg last week, the team met Sunday to discuss its soccer future.
"They went out and had a meeting and talked it out," said Christiansburg coach Sam Gursal. "It was like a retreat. They talked about the past, present and future. Now, we're back in business."
The Blue Demons' offense is led by senior forwards Arron Tuggle and Kevin McDowell.
by CNB