ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, August 31, 1996 TAG: 9609030133
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: FROM STAFF REPORTS
The Virginia Tech men's soccer team defeated Radford 2-1 on Friday in Blacksburg to regain the ``New River Rock'' in the season opener for both teams.
The Hokies jumped out to a 1-0 lead when Stanislav Licul scored on an assist from Matt Whalen four minutes into the game. Whalen later scored on a penalty kick.
Radford's lone goal came in the second half when Jason Gvozdas scored on a penalty kick.
Tech goalkeeper John Sexton recorded 12 saves, including a stop on a penalty kick in the first half.
The teams started playing for the rock in 1988 when Tech coach Jerry Cheynet decided the winner of the annual clash should receive a prize.
In other sports in the region:
* New River Valley Speedway will play host to two events this weekend. The Chevron/Eagle Petroleum/Turbo Food Marts 200 will be held today at 8 p.m. All classes will run, with a 100-lap Late Model Stock feature. The night will be capped with the final Enduro race of the year, which will go for 100 laps or one hour, whichever comes first. Gates open at 1:30 p.m. and qualifying will be held at 6.
Racing resumes Monday for the Local 2069 UAW 200. The Late Models will run for 100 laps, and all other divisions will compete as well. As a special attraction, the Mini Cup cars will race in their final appearance at NRVS this year. Gates open at 10 a.m. and practice begins at noon. The green flag drops for the first race at 4 p.m.
Any spectator who brings a grandstand admission ticket stub from today's event to Monday's race will receive $2 off the gate admission. The offer is not valid with either pit admission tickets or advance discount tickets.
* VMI hired Bruce Harrison, a 1985 graduate of Emory & Henry, as its new tennis coach. Harrison was the men's tennis coach at Radford for the past six seasons and compiled a 76-56 record. He coached at Ferrum for one season as an assistant and was once a club pro at Hidden Valley Country Club in Salem.
* Over 70 teams from 17 states will compete in the 18th annual Church of God Interstate Softball tournament this weekend. The round-robin double-elimination tournament will be played at 15 sites in the Roanoke Valley. The championship game will be held at 7 p.m. Sunday at Berton's Field in Salem.
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