Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 15, 1995 TAG: 9506170008
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: M.J. DOUGHERTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"For myself, Mark [Decker] and Steve [Cherry] - we're all four-year lettermen - and we've talked about winning the state tournament our senior season since middle school," said midfielder Jon Freeman. "We thought it would be a great way to end the high school experience."
Of course, Freeman may have a shorter memory than some of his teammates.
"This is a major accomplishment," said Cherry. "There is a group of us who have been playing together for 13 years. Our goal has been to win state [as a group]. We knew that was something we could do if we went about and did our jobs and played the game the way we can play."
One reason the 1995 championship will be remembered is the team did not win at all in 1994. After taking the state title in 1993, the Indians were upended in the state quarterfinals last year. It was their earliest exit from the state tournament in its seven-year history and the only loss the squad has suffered in a three-year span. Remembering that helped the team focus on capturing the title this year.
"This whole season was unfinished business - that was our theme this year," said goalkeeper Ben Pinkerton, a junior and one of 15 members of the team who will be looking to repeat in 1996. "Business is finished now."
Senior Jacob Piersol, who scored the decisive goal in the 2-0 win over Western Albemarle, put it another way.
"It's great to win," he said. "We've been going for it. After last year's loss in the quarterfinals, it means a lot to come back [and win the title]."
About the only things the Indians (18-0-1) didn't do this season were score 100 goals and finish without any losses or ties. They came up one short in the goal-scoring department with 99 - while giving up just 12. And the only "blemish" on the record - a 1-1 tie against Group AAA Patrick Henry of Roanoke at the end of the regular season - may have been the best thing that could have happened to the Indians going into the post-season.
"It took the pressure off the team of going for a perfect record," Blacksburg coach Shelley Blumenthal said at the beginning of state play. "And it re-focused us going into the post-season."
In six playoff games, Blacksburg outscored its opponents 23-3. And it became the first team to win all its matches in the state tournament by at least two goals since the quarterfinal round was added to the tournament in 1992. Of course, it wasn't always quite as easy as it looked.
"It hasn't been easy, there have been some tough times," said senior midfielder Mark Decker, the Timesland boys' soccer player of the year. "There have been some times we have gotten down. But the difference between last year and this year is we got back up this year."
No matter how easy or hard it was, winning its third title in seven years - the first came in the initial state tournament in 1989 - was still something special for Blacksburg.
"This is a great accomplishment," said senior forward Kurt Williams, who scored the insurance goal as time expired in the title match. "At the beginning of the season, we thought we could do it. Then we went out and did it. To do something like that is great."
by CNB