ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, June 7, 1996 TAG: 9606070027
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-11 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: ANGIE WATTS STAFF WRITER RADFORD
It may not be sponsored by the Virginia High School League, but you can bet when selected Group A boys soccer teams hit the field at Radford High School this weekend, a state title will definitely be on their minds.
The champions and runners-up from Regions A, B and C will be represented today and Saturday in the Group A unofficial state tournament.
Although sanctioned by the VHSL, the tournament is put on by the Group A coaches. The league will not officially conduct the tournament until at least 50 percent of Group A schools have a boys soccer program. About 20 schools are needed to join the list of active teams in order to fulfill the quota.
"Region D has no soccer, so that hurts the other three regions and that hurts the kids," Radford coach Mike Greco said. "So we put on a tournament ourselves and run it just like the state does."
This weekend will mark the second such tournament to be run by the Group A schools. Last season Region A served as the tournament's host at Northumberland High. The tournament rotates to Region B next season.
Region C champion Radford earned the field's top seed after finishing 14-3 overall and 8-0 in Group A action. Second-seeded Brentsville District (Region B champion) enters the tournament with a 15-3-1 record, 12-2-1 against Group A teams. Both teams will receive a first-round bye.
"We're cautiously optimistic," Greco said. "We got to the semifinals last year and we only lost one player from that team."
The Bobcats were knocked out in that semifinal match by Northumberland, and Greco said his team would like a chance at redemption this year. The man to watch for Radford is senior forward Larnelle Lewis, who broke the single season scoring record for the Bobcats this year.
Win or lose, this weekend will serve as a sendoff to eight Radford seniors, three of whom will continue their soccer careers in college. Forward Kirk Perrow is headed to the College of Charleston (S.C.), while midfielder Alan Cox and fullback Matt Gilmore are headed to Chowan (N.C.) College.
Central of Woodstock, the Region B runner-up, will face off against Region A runner-up Northampton in the tournament's first game at 6:30 p.m. today. The winner will advance to face Radford at 10 a.m. Saturday.
In the other bracket, Region A champion Northumberland will battle Region C runner-up Giles after the conclusion of the other first round game, at approximately 8:30 p.m. The winner will face Brentsville District noon Saturday.
The winners from each bracket will then advance to the state title game to be played 7 p.m. Saturday.
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