ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, May 31, 1996 TAG: 9605310020
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-10 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG
SOURCE: CHAD WILLIS STAFF WRITER
The Christiansburg High School boys' soccer team had what can be best described as a breakthrough year in 1996.
Formerly known as the best program in the three-school New River District not named Blacksburg, the Blue Demons finished with an 11-5-1 record and came within a single goal (a 3-2 Region IV quarterfinal loss to Virginia High) of only their second trip to the Group AA state tournament.
Although many people came together to make this one of Christiansburg's most successful seasons on record, few would argue that the two individuals most responsible were first year coach Chris Barrett and senior midfielder Tony Lisanti. Together they impressed the most difficult of soccer critics - opposing coaches that decide end-of-season awards.
In the past two weeks, Lisanti (11 goals, 10 assists) was named the NRD and Region IV Player of the Year and was selected to play for the West squad in the Virginia High School League Coaches Association All-Star game July 9 at Hampton's Darling Stadium. Barrett, like Lisanti, was given top honors in the NRD and Region IV as Coach of the Year.
"I think the awards say a lot about the quality of soccer at Christiansburg," Barrett said. "In the past, this hasn't exactly been a hotbed of recruiting or interest. That was always going on at Blacksburg, but not here. The recognition and success we've had this season should put us on that level.
"Tony's been a large part of that success. He was our quarterback on the field and he always had to go against the opposition's top defensive mark. He never let himself get taken out of a game because he understood how important he was to this team. I think a lot of people are going to see that at the all-star game."
Getting to the Indians' level has been an uphill battle for the Blue Demons. The victim of numerous defeats to their Montgomery rivals, Christiansburg finally turned the corner with a 1-0 May 3 victory over Blacksburg, giving Lisanti and his mates a share of the final NRD regular season title.
"Early on this season, I didn't think we had a really great team," Lisanti said. "It wasn't until we beat Blacksburg that I began to think we had a team that was capable of winning regionals or states."
Those dreams of a state title were dashed in the regional quarterfinals when Virginia High overcame a 2-0 halftime deficit to upset Christiansburg in sudden-death overtime, 3-2.
"It was a very difficult loss for us where it seemed nothing went our way," Lisanti said. "We outshot them something like 36-11 and we still lost. It was disappointing because I knew we definitely had the better team. I watched their next game against Blacksburg and it was difficult because I knew we should have been there."
In past years, such dreams of success from Blue Demon players would have been next to nonexistent. Lisanti credited Barrett's coaching style as the major factor in the team's metamorphosis from also-ran to contender.
"He's a great coach who really knows how to work with us," Lisanti said. "He believes in running practices where you get a lot of touches on the ball. Our last coach [Virginia Tech men's soccer coach Sam Okpodu], lectured us a lot. He was coaching at too high a level for us. Chris is more on our level."
Barrett said the joy of teaching the game to players eager to learn is the best part of his profession.
"The most important thing I've tried to get across to the team is that soccer is essentially the same no matter what level it's played on," Barrett said. "We've watched a lot of film of not only ourselves, but of Major League Soccer and international matches. We then try to put what we see into our practices. It's what I guess you can call an interactive learning environment.
"It's been a lot of fun and the team has really grown and come together. We haven't been without our problems, but we've overcome them. We stress having fun on the field. One of the greatest compliments I've received came from [Blacksburg coach] Shelley Blumenthal. He said it looks like the kids really enjoy playing for me, and that means a lot coming from someone like Shelley."
LENGTH: Medium: 76 linesby CNB