Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, November 12, 1993 TAG: 9311120225
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
After 90 minutes of body contact that led to one brief and harmless on-the-field scuffle, the postgame goings-on included Tech's Willie Littman hugging Radford coach Don Staley with the friendly message: "See you next year."
That's when Radford gets its next chance to paint its logo on the angular stone that resides with the winner of the annual series. Tech's 2-1 victory Thursday before a few hundred spectators at Dedmon Center Stadium kept the geologic trophy in Blacksburg for the second straight year.
The Hokies' Jason Entlich scored at 67:31 of the game to break a tie, and Tech (10-8-1) held off Radford (4-13-3) in the season-ender for both.
The Hokies lead the all-time series 12-4-2; in the last seven years, it's 3-2-2, Tech.
"Our coach calls it the Super Bowl of soccer," said Entlich, who broke Tech's single-season scoring record with his 37th point. "The last couple of years have been really quality games. This is their biggest game, and probably our biggest game."
It was a sloppy game, however, in a scoreless first half. Staley had what he called a "nice chat" with his crew at the break; the Highlanders, who were 2-0-1 in their last three games, responded.
"I thought we really could knock the ball around," Staley said. "I was frustrated we weren't doing that. We were playing a panic style."
With about seven minutes gone in the second half, charging Tech goalie Brian Bulger overran Radford's Che Henderson about 25 yards from the goal and Henderson tapped it in for a 1-0 Radford lead.
It was only the 17th goal in 20 games for Radford. Tech, which had lost three of its past four games, went on alert.
"They came out and dominated," Tech coach Jerry Cheynet said. "After they scored, we sort of woke up a little bit. They scored early enough where there was still enough time for us to keep our composure."
About four minutes later, Entlich centered from the left side to Rodney Walsh, who lost one Radford defender and stuffed a point-blank shot into the right corner of the net to tie the game.
Then at 67:31, Radford didn't clear Scott Elson's shot and Walsh dumped the ball to Entlich in front of the goal.
"It was kind of scary having the ball come down on my chest," Entlich said. "I thought definitely a defender was on my back. I was just lucky to finish."
While Radford struggled for offense in the last few minutes, Tech's Chris Chladek missed one open-net shot and another shot when he was one-on-one with Radford's goalie. Tech outshot Radford 12-4.
After Radford scored, Staley said, "We got complacent. We relaxed and didn't clear the ball in back. They capitalized on two mistakes.
"That's two years in a row they've taken the rock. Maybe the spirited rivalry, to this young team, will mean a little more next year."
by CNB