Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 16, 1995 TAG: 9503210017
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S-14 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
The Terriers were 19-0 and facing Martinsville, a team they had beaten for the Region III title, in the Group AA state semifinals.
The Bulldogs prevailed in the rematch 2-0 and then lost 1-0 to Tabb for the state crown. Byrd was left to wonder about what could have been.
The Terriers, who have dominated Region III, figure to be strong again this year. But how strong?
``We've got seven starters back out of 11, but the four we lost were real good,'' said Highfill. ``They were all four-year starters, and two of them [Andy McCaskill and Jason Criss] were all-staters.
McCaskill was the Timesland Player of the Year with 32 goals and 11 assists. Criss was in goal and recorded 10 shutouts last year and 33 for a career.
The Terriers will reload behind fullback Matt Bryant and forward Michael Berry, who had 24 goals and 21 assists as a sophomore. He was All-Timesland. Both he and Bryant were All-Region III and All-Blue Ridge District.
``There's good potential,'' said Highfill, ``but the players we lost were the semifocus of this team for four years. We have all our subs back, so we hope to be very competitive.''
The players who should move in as Byrd stars are forward Joe Cockfield, halfback Matt Burton, halfback Aaron Dowdy, fullback Eric Evenson, halfback Eric Martin, halfback Greg Johnson and halfback Ernie Hale, who played for the Terriers two years ago.
The search for a goalie is zeroing in on either Mike Creasey or Vince Ferriaula. ``I don't know if anyone can step in for Criss, but we should be OK in goal,'' said Highfill.
NORTH CROSS should be Roanoke's other strong team. The Raiders play perhaps the toughest schedule in Timesland, opting to forego the Virginia Independent Conference fall soccer and play as a spring independent.
The Raiders were 14-1-3 a year ago with the one loss coming to Martinsville. Coach Richard Cook expects defender Brad Blum and attackman John Prillaman to anchor the team.
Senior Skip Johnson, a good athlete with little experience, will move into goal for the Raiders. North Cross plays Patrick Henry and Cave Spring, two of the better Roanoke Valley District teams, perennial Group AA power Blacksburg, Martinsville twice and E.C. Glass, a strong Western District team.
A look at other boys' soccer teams:
CAVE SPRING: The Knights have a new coach in Bruce Mahan, who played soccer at Roanoke College. The Knights will go behind senior goalie Justin Brittle and a strong junior class. Other seniors are Brady Lassiter at forward and Spanish exchange student Victor Garcia. Chris Hewitt at forward is the top junior.
FRANKLIN COUNTY: Franklin County lost out in a close battle with Cave Spring and Patrick Henry to make the Northwestern Region tournament a year ago. The Eagles were unbeaten with three ties in the regular season district race, but lost to Cave Spring in the tournament. There is a good nucleus back with Jonathan Seale and John Muse at striker, Brian Hurt at goalie to blend with freshmen Sammy Huffman at fullback and Wade Forte at midfield.
GLENVAR: The Highlanders return 11 players led by senior captain Cory Moses at center-fullback, Kevin Solesbee at sweeper, Tripp Waymack at center-forward and Allison Waymack on the wing. Glenvar won only one game out of 14 and figure to improve.
JAMES RIVER: There are 10 lettermen back including stopper Isaac Minnis, Jason Hayslett at midfield and Eric Mowles on defense for the Group A team that posted a 3-10 record.
LIBERTY: The Minutemen return five seniors and had one of their biggest turnouts for tryouts. The top players are midfielders Joel Morgan and Chris Blair, son of coach John Blair, along with Mike Tillman on the front line.
LORD BOTETOURT: The Cavaliers will be inexperienced, but return three strong seniors in goalie Brian Kosko, and midfielders Jamie Bednarek and Jeremy Rhoades. ``Being as young as we are, we won't be a major force just yet,'' says coach Jerry Wertz.
NORTHSIDE: The Vikings have a lot of players back, led by forwards Mark Futrell, Robbie Trent and Chris Lucado, and halfback Brent Lowe for new coach Bob Blades. The Vikings should be competitive except against Byrd in the Blue Ridge District.
PATRICK HENRY: The Patriots hope to repeat as Roanoke Valley District champions behind juniors Brooks Berry and Daniel Hurst on defense, and midfielders Patrick Barritt and Hanes Feldman. All-Timesland sweeper Cannon Helscher isn't back because he's an exchange student in Denmark. The Patriots lost nine players, and coach Ed McMichael says the Patriots are reloading.
ROANOKE CATHOLIC: The Celtics are rebuilding behind Shane Duddy at forward, Chuck Gilliland at sweeper, Ryan McFadden at forward, Chris Lothes on defense and Mark Buchy in goal. The Celtics, like North Cross, don't play a fall VIC schedule.
SALEM: Salem was runnerup to William Byrd in the Blue Ridge District a year ago, but the Spartans lost their top four scorers. Brad Moser in goal and Ryan Reeves at midfield are three-year starters. Sophomore Matt Tucker started as a sweeper as a freshman, but the Spartans must do some switching to come up to last year's standards.
STAUNTON RIVER: The Golden Eagles were 2-8 in the Seminole District and have few returnees. Seniors Alex Torres at center-half, Danielle Morris at right fullback and Ernie Estes at left half are the top players.
WILLIAM FLEMING:The Colonels will be operating under new coach Michel Saade, who replaces Earl Henritze, the dean of Roanoke Valley District coaches.
by CNB