Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, May 7, 1995 TAG: 9505080113
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: E1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ANDREA KUHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Dante Washington gave the Roanoke RiverDawgs the spark they needed Saturday night to extinguish the Columbia Heat.
After Roanoke spotted the Heat a 1-0 lead, the former Radford soccer star and U.S. Olympic team member scored the Dawgs' first goal and assisted on the game winner as Roanoke won its home opener 5-1 in front of an enthusiastic crowd of approximately 1,200 at Cave Spring Junior High School.
The Dawgs improve to 1-1 in the Premier/Amateur Division of the United System of Independent Soccer Leagues after losing their opener 5-2 to the Myrtle Beach Boyz on April 29.
``It was very important for us to score early,'' Washington said. ``We lost our first game, and that was disappointing. We didn't put it together in that game, and we did tonight.
``We were able to score early and get up on top. That, and having the fans behind us, gave us a lot of confidence.''
Midfielder Tyler Boulware scored 4:48 into the game for Columbia (0-1) by rebounding a free kick by Greg Vallee.
But Washington responded three minutes later when he took a pass from Eric McClellan and nailed a shot from the right side that sailed past Heat goalkeeper David Turner. Former Roanoke College standout Dustin Fonder set up McClellan's pass and also was credited with an assist.
McClellan, a teammate of Washington's with the Washington Warthogs of the professional Continental Indoor Soccer League, scored again at the 20:21 mark on an assist from Fonder to make it 2-1.
The Dawgs led 3-1 at halftime after Brent Bennett capitalized on a free kick opportunity. Washington set up for the kick but faked, allowing Graham Perkovich to lob the ball over the Heat defenders and into Bennett's range.
The scoring got the RiverDawgs fans fired up in the first half, but not as much as one missed scoring opportunity.
In the USISL, after a team accumulates seven fouls the opposing team is allowed a live shootout where a designated player gets the ball at the top of the center circle and goes one-on-one with the opposing goal keeper. All other players are lined up behind the midfield line but are allowed to charge the shooter when the whistle blows.
Washington, admittedly unfamiliar with the experimental rule, was the Dawgs' shooter and hesitated briefly when the whistle blew. A throng of Columbia players came about five steps from mowing Washington over before he got the ball out ahead of him.
``Luckily, I looked back and saw they were coming at me,'' said Washington, who had five of Roanoke's 16 shots in the game. ``But it was very frustrating because it was a good opportunity to score. You don't get [one-on-one] opportunities like that very often.''
Roanoke coach Sam Okpodu said the mishap was a case of miscommunication.
``We were under the impression that the player has to touch the ball before the back players can come after him,'' He said. ``It was a hard lesson to learn.''
However, Okpodu said he was pleased with the effort of his team, which limited the Heat to five shots. Aaron Ewert and Brian Bailey each had two saves in goal for the Dawgs.
``A lot better. And this is exactly how I know they can play,'' Okpodu said.
The Dawgs scorched the Heat for two more unanswered goals in the second half.
Byron Mitchell, who played with the USISL's Hampton Roads Hurricanes last season and joined the Dawgs on Friday, scored on a header at the 36:01 mark. Ivan Sampson assisted the goal then capped the scoring at 38:47 by weaving through several Columbia defenders for an unassisted goal.
by CNB