ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, May 29, 1996 TAG: 9605290132
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: CHAD WILLIS STAFF WRITER
NICK KAPPAS' SHOT and a wet ball send the Indians into a Group AA semifinal matchup with William Byrd.
In a match the magnitude of a Group AA boys' soccer quarterfinal, the smallest of variables sometimes can mean the difference between going on and going home.
In Tuesday's game between Salem and defending champion Blacksburg, the difference was a slippery soccer ball.
Blacksburg's Nick Kappas scored from 20 yards in the match's 43rd minute on a shot that apparently slipped through Salem keeper Jon McClure's gloves. It stood as the only goal of the night, giving the Indians a 1-0 victory and a spot in Friday's state semifinal round.
``I had a pretty good look at what happened after I shot it,'' Kappas said. ``It looked like the ball just skipped off his hands. The wet ball was giving both goalies some trouble tonight.''
For Walt Braine, Salem's coach, the goal was a disappointing way to decide an evenly played game.
``We played them a great game and it's extremely tough to lose that way,'' Braine said. ``I haven't talked to [McClure] yet, so I don't know how much the wet ball had to do with it. It looked like a ball he should have stopped.''
Kappas' winner was set up off a throw-in from the Blacksburg attack zone. Fullback Chris Nietzold settled under the toss and flicked a crossing pass to Kappas, waiting just outside the penalty box.
Shelley Blumenthal, Blacksburg's coach, said the play came about because of adjustments made at the halftime of the scoreless match.
``We talked about slowing down our restarts a little and making sure we were set to attack,'' Blumenthal said. Nietzold ``did a great job of finding Nick for the shot.''
The goal was Kappas' 16th of the season and his third in the past three games.
``He's really done a great job of leading this team, both on and off the field,'' Blumenthal said. ``He demands the ball in the tough games, and lately he's really been producing.''
Blacksburg goalie Ben Pinkerton continued his recent hot play with 12 saves, recording his third shutout in the past four games.
Pinkerton turned away Salem's best scoring chance with 2:02 remaining in the opening half, closing down the goal mouth on streaking Chris Barba and forcing his shot wide right.
``I just charged the ball and tried to cut down [Barba's] angle as much as I could,'' Pinkerton said. ``A lot of the credit on that one should go to Cory Bond for hustling back on defense and helping out.''
Blacksburg (12-5-2) will be home for a Group AA semifinal at 7 p.m. Friday against William Byrd, a 5-1 winner over Virginia of Bristol in another quarterfinal. Salem finishes with a 13-6 record.
``We're just really pleased to still be playing at this point in the season,'' Blumenthal said. ``We know we've got our work cut out for us in the next round.''
``Virginia High is a very athletic team with a lot of speed up front. William Byrd is a team that is loaded with a lot of talent. We're going to have to be really focused come Friday.''
LENGTH: Medium: 68 linesby CNB