Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 10, 1993 TAG: 9306100007
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BY CHRIS BACHELDER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FREDERICKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
It started muggy and ended muddy.
It spanned 2 hours, 45 minutes and extended through two halves, four overtime periods and a vicious thunderstorm before its pressure-packed finale.
The state Group AA soccer championship finally was settled in a penalty-kick shootout between two unbeaten teams.
And this time, Blacksburg won.
Todd Lyons' blast capped the shootout Wednesday night and the Indians avenged a 1990 championship loss with a 2-1 victory over host Chancellor.
The Chargers edged the Indians 2-1 in a rain-soaked championship shootout three years ago.
"I'm not a big proponent of penalty kicks, but I love them in 1993," said Blacksburg coach Shelley Blumenthal.
"It was just an evenly played game. It's a shame it comes down to penalty kicks, but what are you going to do?"
It was the Indians' fourth trip to the finals and second victory in the five years in the Group AA championship.
Blacksburg led the shootout 4-3 before Indians goalie Kevin Schug - who is headed to VMI on a football scholarship - stopped Dwight Peck's shot to set up Lyons' winner.
Lyons, a senior, is the only 1993 player who saw action in the 1990 championship game. He beat Mike Gerber on a shot to the lower left corner of the goal.
"I hate games decided on PKs, but I've been on the other end, too," Lyons said. "It's sweet revenge."
The Chargers (17-1) took the lead 22 minutes into the game on a goal by Brody McCray. Schug deflected McCray's straight-on shot, but the ball trickled over the goal line as the 6-foot-4 keeper scrambled after it.
The Indians (18-0-2) tied the score less than a minute later on Mark Hutchins' left-footed shot from 20 yards. It was only the fifth goal scored on Gerber all season.
As soon as the first half ended, lightning chased the 1,000 fans out of the bleachers and rain drenched the field.
Chancellor put almost constant pressure on Blacksburg in the second half but did not score. The overtimes were even, and the Indians had the best scoring opportunity.
With 45 seconds remaining in the second five-minute overtime period, Ben Cherry fired a point-blank shot, but Gerber made the save.
The teams then played two five-minute sudden-death overtimes before the shootout.
See microfilm for box score.
by CNB