Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 3, 1994 TAG: 9403030222
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: E-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By BRIAN DeVIDO STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
The Terriers have won seven of the past eight Region III titles and have claimed the Blue Ridge District regular-season title eight years in a row.
So when you think of dominance, don't think of Emmitt Smith running through an opposing defense. Don't think of Shaquille O'Neal dunking over some hapless center.
Think of Terriers goalie Jason Criss diving through the air to make another save. Think of forward Andy McCaskill blasting another shot into the net.
Last year, William Byrd won the district and region titles, but was upset by Christiansburg in the quarterfinal round of the Group AA tournament.
This team should be better. Nine starters return, headed by Criss and McCaskill, both seniors; sophomore forward Michael Berry; senior fullback Chris Almond; and senior halfback Caleb Taylor.
Criss, who has posted 23 shutouts in his career, was All-Region III last year and honorable mention All-Group AA. McCaskill, who scored 23 goals and had eight assists, was first-team All-Group AA and was the district's player of the year. Berry had 19 goals and 12 assists and was second-team All-Group AA.
It's enough to make opponents shudder.
One thing that makes coach Jeff Highfill feel even better is the leadership on his team. Criss, McCaskill, Almond and Taylor have been on the varsity together since they were freshmen, when Byrd lost to Park View-Sterling in the Group AA final.
"I think that's going to be a real key for us," Highfill said. "They've always been close. They hang out on Friday night together."
If the Terriers play up to their potential, it could mean another long season for opposing Blue Ridge District and Region III teams.
Also in the Blue Ridge District:
Northside will field a team that second-year coach Fred Wagner said will be in great condition and have plenty of skill.
Senior fullback Ben Caldwell is the top returning starter for the Vikings, who finished second to William Byrd in the district and region last season.
"They're loaded," Wagner said of the Terriers. "I just think they're going to be the way they always are: on top of things.
"But we'll be in great shape. A lot of our guys play year-round. The skills are there."
Salem has eight starters back from last year's team, which finished third in the district. Senior midfielder Owen Woodward and senior forward Sterling Turner should provide the offensive punch.
"The top two scorers are gone," said Walt Braine, the Spartans' coach. "So I don't want to even hazard a guess [as to what they'll be like] right now. But we should have a good, solid team."
In the Roanoke Valley District:
Cave Spring, the 1993 district champion, may be ripe for the picking.
The Knights, under first-year coach David Frazier, have two strong senior midfielders in David Kunkle and Brandon Borne. First-team All-Roanoke Valley District goalie Justin Brittle and Tate Duus, a junior sweeper or stopper, are solid on defense.
Frazier was an assistant coach for the North Cross boys' varsity last year, and he has coached Roanoke Star select teams for six years.
"We'll have a European style of play," said Frazier, a 1984 Cave Spring graduate. "We'll stay away from the long ball. There's not a lot of speed, but we should have a pretty good team when it comes to passing."
Patrick Henry, which finished second in the district to Cave Spring last season, has six starters returning. Senior fullback H.B. Thomas and senior goalie Chris Andres will anchor the defense, and senior midfielder Asheley Thomas and junior midfielder Cannon Helscher will lead the offense.
"I think this is the first year in a while where there's not one or two outstanding players, but four or five will do a real good job," said Ed McMichael, the PH coach. "We may not surprise anybody with brilliant play, but I think we'll be a tough team to play."
The highlight for William Fleming last season was a 3-3 tie with Patrick Henry, the first time in memory the Colonels didn't lose to the Patriots. Coach Earl Henritz hopes to build on that, but it may be difficult, because only two starters return - senior sweeper Shannon Allmon and junior fullback Kevin Graham.
"We're going to be young and inexperienced," said Henritz, in his fifth year as coach. "But because they're young, I think I can motivate them to work hard."
In the Pioneer District:
Glenvar played in the first Region C soccer tournament and lost its first game the hard way: in four overtimes to George Wythe.
Coach Steve Franco said his Highlanders, with three starters returning, are young but have a lot of talent coming up from the junior varsity.
"Our schedule will be tough," he said. "It's always tough."
The majority of Glenvar's opponents will be Group AA and Group AAA schools, so the team's nucleus of senior goalie Mike Stanley, junior fullback Chip Brown and junior forward Corey Moses will need to be strong.
James River, coming off an 0-9-2 season, has nine returning starters and should be stronger this year.
Senior goalie Dan McRae, junior forward Isaac Minnis and right wing Michael Broughman are the leaders for the Knights, and coach Wesley Kern is optimistic.
"I think the experience they got last year will pay off," Kern said.
In the Virginia Independent Conference:
North Cross is the team to beat. The Raiders went 17-1-2 a year ago, winning the VIC title for the sixth consecutive year. Leading the way are senior fullback Ry Moore, senior midfielder Forrest Porterfield, and senior goalie Eric Mull, who posted 12 shutouts last year and is recovering from knee surgery. In all, six starters return.
"We have a lot of depth," said Richard Cook, North Cross' coach. "I think they've got a chance to go a long way."
The schedule will be competitive, including clashes with William Byrd, Patrick Henry and 1993 Group AA champion Blacksburg, which handed North Cross its only loss last year 1-0.
Roanoke Catholic has nine starters back from the 1993 squad that finished third in the conference. Senior goalie Mike Kolnok and senior fullback Matt Campbell lead the team.
"I've got a good nucleus of seniors who've been playing together since they were freshmen," said Jerry Eubank, the Celtics' coach.
by CNB