Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 31, 1995 TAG: 9505310095
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: M.J. DOUGHERTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Quick scores have been the trademark of the Blacksburg High boys' soccer team all season.
Nothing was different Tuesday in the first round of the Group AA state tournament. The Indians scored in the eighth minute of the match and went on to beat Salem 3-1.
Blacksburg (17-0-1) will meet William Byrd in the state semifinals Friday. Byrd beat Christiansburg 3-0 in another first-round game. The loss ended Salem's season at 11-7-2.
The Indians opened the match with tremendous offensive pressure. That pressure paid off when Steve Cherry scored.
``John [Freeman] put a hard shot that was going for the goal. Luckily, it hit off my head and went into the back of the net,'' Cherry said. ``We knew if we came out with a lot of intensity, we would get our opportunities.''
For the next 15 minutes, the Indians continued to pressure and control play, although Salem made an occasional charge. A pair of goals in the 24th minute by Mark Decker gave Blacksburg a three-goal advantage.
First, Decker converted a penalty kick opportunity after a Spartan foul in the goal box. About 30 seconds later, Decker scored again. This time, John Gwazdauskas started the play 35 yards from the goal. He passed to B.J. Lafon on the right side of the penalty box. While falling, Lafon made a pass to Decker. And Decker put the ball in the net and Blacksburg up 3-0.
``We always attack,'' said Decker, the Region IV player of the year. ``We're always looking for the goal. We've got a great offensive team. We've scored 95 goals this year. We always apply pressure. We score goals in bunches.''
Salem closed to 3-1 in the 36th minute as Brian Jones scored on a penalty kick.
``I knew if we got down, we'd have a tough time tonight,'' Salem coach Walter Braine said. ``We played pretty good. We had chances to score. But we missed the shots.''
Neither team scored in the second half. The Indians continued to attack but did not finish against a Salem team gathered around the goal trying to prevent another goal. When the Spartans took the offensive, Blacksburg cleared the ball and immediately tried to counterattack.
Over the last 20 minutes of the match, five yellow warning cards and two red ejection cards were issued. Three of the yellows and both of the reds went to the Spartans. They played one man down over the final seven minutes and were short two players in the last two minutes.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
by CNB