ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, June 2, 1996 TAG: 9606030138
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-9 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: IN THE REGION
SOURCE: FROM STAFF REPORTS
The Roanoke RiverDawgs soccer team made an important step in the United Systems of Independent Soccer Leagues standings on Saturday by taking the ball off the feet of the Nashville Metros.
The RiverDawgs came from two goals down to beat their Premier League Eastern Conference rivals 4-2 at Cave Spring Junior High School. The victory moves Roanoke (5-3 overall, 2-1 Premier) into the Northern Division lead, one-half game ahead of the Metros.
``We bumped off the No.1 team in the division,'' said RiverDawgs coach Ed McMichael. ``We woke up in the second half.''
Nashville (2-2 Premier League) took a 2-0 lead into the intermission, when the RiverDawgs shook things up. Coach Ed McMichael moved former Roanoke College star Grayson Prillaman from fullback to midfielder. Andy Kwon, a midfielder from Duke University, scored the RiverDawgs' first two goals shortly after the break.
Prillaman helped Roanoke get the go-ahead goal with an assist to former Radford University star Ian Spooner at the 75-minute mark. Waughn Hughes, a midfielder from William and Mary, scored the final goal at 89:00.
``We had been trying to reorganize the backfield by putting me there,'' Prillaman said. ``In doing that, we sacrificed some of the attack. In moving up, we had more options in the attack and it gave us more composure up front.''
RiverDawgs goalkeeper Aaron Ewert stopped 11 of Nashville's 13 shots. Metros goalie John Busch faced 13 shots and made six saves. Roanoke's next game comes on the road June 9 in East Brunswick, N.J., against the Central Jersey Riptide, a member of the U.S.I.S.L. Pro League.
In other news in the region:
Brian Pirckle and Alborz Fatheddin each scored as the Roanoke Star Under-13 White team defeated the Fredericksburg Hot Spurs 2-0 in the semifinals of the Soccer State Cup in Richmond. Goalkeeper Charlie Patterson picked up the shutout.
Roanoke will face the winner of Saturday's Midlothian-Herndon game today at 1 for the championship. The winner will advance to the national competition at Niagara Falls.
LENGTH: Short : 48 linesby CNB