Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, June 26, 1995 TAG: 9506260127
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DIONNE REYNOLDS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
During the first half, forward Ian Spooner scored off an assist by Grayson Prillaman to put the RiverDawgs (3-8) on top. Defender Byron Mitchell then knocked in a header to put the Dawgs up 2-0 and complete the first-half scoring.
The second half got hairy as Nashville midfielder Steve Butler scored on a penalty kick to cut the Metros' deficit to one. Spooner countered the Metros goal to put the RiverDawgs up 3-1. Brent Bennett's goal gave Roanoke a 4-1 lead in the 51st minute.
The Metros (5-5) rallied again when the Dawgs' Mark Ellis scored an own goal on goalie Aaron Ewert to pull the Metros to 4-2. And Butler, assisted by Toni Sikala, scored again to make the final 4-3.
Ed McMichael, the RiverDawgs' coach, enjoyed the victory.
``The players have been working really hard,'' McMichael said. ``It's been a couple of games where if the breaks had been going the right way, we would have won.''
McMichael believes the Dawgs have played just as well in their previous games.
``The breaks went a different way this time ... we were able to capitalize this time,'' he said.
Spooner, who plays for Radford University, was named the game's offensive MVP. The native of Oxford, England, said he felt upbeat and confident going into the game. ``I really wanted to win,'' he said.
Spooner said the Dawgs' season started well, but with players leaving to join indoor teams and others sidelined by injuries, the team became shaky. With some players back from injuries, Spooner is optimistic about the rest of the season. ``Hopefully, now we've got a settled team,'' he said. ``Hopefully, we will win a few games, get a string of wins going.''
Forward Brent Bennett, who scored the last goal for the Dawgs, said it has been a ``long'' season. ``We hate losing,'' he said.
With the change in coach from Sam Okpodu to McMichael and injuries, Bennett said the season has lacked a rhythm. ``It took a little re-adapting,'' he said.
Bennett, a former James Madison University standout, said his game has improved since he completed his degree at Radford.
``It was hard for me,'' Bennett said. ``I have more practice time ... it was a definite burden.'' He also is optimistic about the rest of the season. ``We can still come back,'' he said.
see microfilm for box score
by CNB