Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, December 5, 1994 TAG: 9412300056
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium
It was hard to tell which was the bigger winner Sunday at Klockner Stadium: the University of Virginia or college soccer in Virginia.
An overflow crowd of 7,807 disregarded threatening weather to watch fifth-ranked UVa defeat No.12 James Madison 4-1 and reach the NCAA Division I men's final four for the fourth consecutive year.
A.J. Wood scored three goals and set a single-season record for the Cavaliers (20-2-2), who will play Rutgers (14-9-3) in a semifinal Friday at Davidson (N.C.) College.
``In the early part of October, I would have told you this team wasn't capable of getting to Davidson,'' said Bruce Arena, UVa's coach. ``I will tell you now they're capable of winning the whole thing.''
It was the 12th consecutive NCAA Tournament victory for the Cavaliers, who are 24-0-2 in postseason play (counting the ACC Tournament) since 1991. UVa led 2-0 at the half Sunday, and the only question after that was the margin.
Although the game fell short of the buildup, the crowd did not. It exceeded the previous record of 6,100, established in the first game at 3-year-old Klockner Stadium, where the capacity is listed as 7,000.
``I'm kind of sad this was my last game here,'' Wood said, ``but to be in this kind of environment [and] to play your final game in front of this many fans ... this is the best the atmosphere has ever been.''
Many of the fans had come across Afton Mountain to support the Dukes, who had beaten North Carolina and Duke in their first two NCAA games this year. They stood for the entire game on the hill facing the Klockner grandstand.
The JMU fans introduced themselves to the UVa players during warmups, and Wood celebrated each of his goals by exchanging high-fives with a ripple of UVa fans in a sea of Dukes.
By all accounts, Wood's first goal was the most critical. UVa was leading 1-0 when he took possession of the ball some 30 yards from the goal and floated it over the head of JMU goalie Barry Purcell. There were 45 seconds left in the half.
``We were sitting on the bench thinking, `Let's just get to halftime, weather the storm and regroup,''' said Dr. Tom Martin, the Dukes` coach. ``Right before half sometimes is the kiss of death.''
It was 3-0 before Nathan Fairchild averted a shutout by scoring a goal for JMU with 18 minutes, 49 seconds left in the game. Wood got his third goal with 8:46 remaining, in the process tying an NCAA record with his 12th goal in tournament play.
In addition, the senior forward set a school record with his 22nd goal of the season. The old mark of 21, set by Jeff Gaffney, had stood since 1983.
Wood took eight of Virginia's 17 shots, several from close range. The first goal, on which Purcell had strayed too far from the goal to make a deflection, may have been his toughest.
``I had the feeling that, if we could just slip in a goal before the half, it would be a big advantage,'' Wood said. ``I haven't scored many like that in the past. It was pretty far out.''
Both teams failed to take advantage of some good scoring opportunities, with most of JMU's chances coming in the first half. Virginia goalie Mark Peters had a season-high seven saves, several requiring diving deflections.
``It was nice to show them I could play,'' said Peters, who had an interest in James Madison when he was at Handley High School in Winchester, but was not recruited by the Dukes.
It was UVa's 13th consecutive victory over JMU, a team the Cavaliers played annually until the regular-season series was discontinued after 1992. Arena is wary of facing the Dukes in the midst of ACC play.
``If we can get together some time, we'll do it,'' he said. ``We kind of know what scheduling is about and how to prepare a team. We're not on a mission to help teams around the state.''
Martin, whose Dukes set a school record for victories in finishing 20-3-2, said he hoped Sunday's crowd would help bring the teams together.
``I'm sure it didn't hurt,'' he said. ``You get an atmosphere like this, with 7,807 paying customers, you've got to consider seriously playing as often as you can.''
by CNB