ROANOKE TIMES

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

DATE: SATURDAY, July 31, 1993                   TAG: 9307310207
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: From Associated Press and staff reports
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short


STAR TEAM MAKES BEST U.S. FINISH

The Roanoke Star 15-and-under White team advanced to the quarterfinal round of the Dana Cup youth soccer tournament Friday before losing 3-0 to Kvinesda from Oslo, Norway.

Star coach Danny Beamer said Dana Cup officials told him it is the furthest an American team has advanced in the age group, which has been sponsored for three years by the 15-year-old tournament.

The Star beat Snostrop of Sweden 1-0 earlier Friday to reach the quarterfinals. Mark Levan scored on Patrick Barritt's assist, and goalkeeper Michael Creasey completed his fifth consecutive shutout in the Dana Cup and seventh during the team's European tour.

Roanoke's quarterfinal game was a scoreless tie until 15 minutes into the second half, when Creasey's shutout string was broken. Kvinesda, which Beamer said won the prestigious Oslo Cup youth tournament this year, scored twice more in pouring rain to oust Roanoke from the 64-team field.

Roanoke finished its European tour 7-2-1 and was 5-1 in the Dana Cup.

"The players really have improved tremendously," Beamer said. "They're so intelligent; they have learned so much from playing these teams. I see them doing things each game that I didn't really teach them, that they picked up from the European teams."

Beamer also praised his team's composure, noting that European referees call a more loose game than do American officials. In 10 games, Roanoke had two yellow cards for rough play.

"That's outstanding," Beamer said.



 by CNB