Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, August 31, 1994 TAG: 9408310038
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
At Roanoke College, coach Scott Allison knows the feeling.
The Maroons got their first taste of postseason play last year, when they reached the NCAA Division III quarterfinals, and Allison would like to make it a habit.
``I didn't feel any better about last season than I do about this season,'' said Roanoke's ninth-year coach. ``We have the ability to win the [Old Dominion Athletic] Conference again this year and, if you win our conference, you're in the NCAAs.''
The Maroons welcome back nine starters from last year's team, which finished 20-4, but lose their leading scorer, Division III field player of the year Dustin Fonder, and four-time all-region defender Nelson Vasquez.
Virginia will have to do without All-America midfielder Claudio Reyna, described this week by coach Bruce Arena as ``the greatest player in the history of college soccer,'' but has been ranked No.1 in all of the preseason polls released to this point.
Reyna passed up his final year of eligibility to play for the U.S. team in the World Cup, then signed with a pro team in Germany; however, UVa does have senior forward Nate Friends, who had a total of five goals in the Cavaliers' semifinal and final victories.
``I have a hard time believing the only way we will be judged is on whether we win the national championship, although that's probably the way we will be judged,'' Arena said. ``Our only goal is to get to the NCAA playoffs.''
Following is a look at the soccer programs at colleges covered by the Roanoke Times & World-News:
Men
FERRUM: The Panthers, with no seniors returning from last year's 5-12-1 team, open the season Friday against 1992 NCAA Division III champion Kean College of Union, N.J., in the first round of the Domino's Classic at the River's Edge Complex. Roanoke College is the host team for the tournament.
Junior Steve Reynolds from Franklin County had a 2.15 goals-against average last year for Ferrum, which lost six one-goal decisions. Ken Howe, who had a team-high six goals last season, helps make up for the loss of two-time All-Dixie Conference selection Will Cunningham. Of the 25 players on Ferrum's roster, 17 are freshmen.
RADFORD: Ian Spooner, who scored 16 goals as a freshman in 1992, returns after a year's hiatus to find a new coach in 30-year-old Spencer Smith and a team that fell on hard times last year with a 4-13-3 record.
Smith, previously head coach at North Carolina Wesleyan, welcomes back 1993 leading scorer Che Henderson and has added Peruvians Edwardo Wissar and Jose Avendano to an international contingent that includes Spooner and three other players from Ireland or England.
ROANOKE: Allison hopes the Maroons can make up for Fonder's departure with scoring from All-ODAC forward Andy Smith, second-team All-ODAC midfielder Rick Wells and transfer Rich Aftoora, who played in a Division I program at Loyola, Md.
Allison has been impressed with the play of back Tres Moore, a senior from North Cross, in the preseason. Goalie Rick Keeley, who had a 0.71 goals-against average in 1993, and second-team All-ODAC choice Jason Gildea will help Roanoke remain strong on defense.
VIRGINIA: The Cavaliers hope to learn today if suspended midfielder Mike Slivinski is successful in his bid to regain his eligibility, but even without him UVa should have plenty of firepower with Friends, preseason All-American A.J. Wood and 1993 assists leader Damian Silvera.
New goalie Mark Peters will make his first start tonight against San Francisco in a televised exhibition game at Davidson College, site of the men's soccer final four. The schools asked for a waiver of the NCAA rule that prohibits regular-season games before Sept.1 but were turned down.
VMI: The Keydets have some scoring punch in junior midfielder Trey Kirby, who had a team-high 24 points last year, and senior striker Geoff Blum, whose 19 career goals are eight shy of the school record.
Coach Stephen Ross, trying to improve on last year's 5-14-1 mark, has added past VMI head coaches Doug Bartlett and Nino Altamonte to his staff. Altamonte most recently was an assistant at James Madison, and Bartlett is VMI's head lacrosse coach. The Keydets will start three freshmen.
VIRGINIA TECH: The Hokies defeated Division III power Roanoke College 3-2 in a scrimmage Saturday in what was a positive sign for coach Jerry Cheynet. Chris Segaar, one of several freshmen from whom Tech expects contributions, had a goal and an assist.
Tech (10-8-1 in '93) will miss Jason Entlich, who set the Hokies' single-season scoring record, but Rodney Walsh is back for his senior year after being named the team's most valuable offensive player. Brian Macfarlane and Chris Chladek, last year's team rookie of the year, join him on the front line.
WASHINGTON AND LEE: All-ODAC selection Alan Christenson returns in the midfield, and forward Shag Drewry is back after scoring seven goals and a team-high 17 points for last year's 5-13 team.
Senior Paul Wright, a defensive midfielder, is another player who can have a big impact on the Generals' season. With the departure of seven starters, coach Rolf Piranian says as many as three or four freshmen could start.
Women
FERRUM: The Lady Panthers had the best record in the five-year history of the program when they finished 12-5-1 in 1993. Midfielder Carrie Early, an all-state selection who has been described as the ``cornerstone'' of the program by coach Tom Thatcher, returns for her senior year.
Sophomore goalie Danielle Giusto had 10 shutouts last year.
HOLLINS: Hollins clearly is ahead of last year, when Kellie Kennedy was not named coach until Sept.3. Goalie Kris Lepow has undergone successful surgery for the shoulder problems that reduced her to a field player last season, good news considering Hollins (3-11) gave up 73 goals.
RADFORD: New coach Lisa O'Brien from Guilford must deal with the loss of five All-Big South players from last year's 15-3-2 team, including All-American and Big South Player of the Year Sue Williams. This year's team features sisters Missy and Nadine Gaitka from the soccer hotbed of Kearny, N.J. Missy Gaitka had 11 goals last year.
ROANOKE: Gone is all-time scoring leader Robin McLaughlin, but the Lady Maroons built some momentum by finishing 11-7-1 after an 0-4 start. Midfielder Angela Cafiero, whose '93 season ended with a knee injury in the second game, joins Jenn Roessler as a proven scorer.
VIRGINIA: The Cavaliers ended a streak of six consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances last year, when they finished 10-9-1. Coach Lauren Gregg signed three Parade All-Americans, including two-time selection Wendy Hartwig and national midfielder of the year Dina Padula.
VIRGINIA TECH: Coach Sam Okpodu guided the Hokies to a 6-10-1 record in his first season and has added 12 freshmen to the likes of Tisha Truman, who had 11 goals last season. Okpodu must find a goalie to replace Jenny Weibel; senior Penny Goode had a 1.20 goals-against average in five games last season.
WASHINGTON AND LEE: W&L, rebuilding after last year's 9-7-1 season, must replace two-time All-ODAC selections Angie Carrington, Corinda Hankins and Aspen Yawars. Goalie Beth Mozena played every minute as a freshman and gets help from back Marina Jackson.
by CNB