THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 17, 1994 TAG: 9407170226
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines
The Hampton Roads Hurricanes were hoping for two big wins when the weekend began.
Instead, they got three.
Prior to Saturday night's 4-2 victory over the Richmond Kickers, the Hurricanes learned they'd been awarded a 3-0 forfeit victory over the Connecticut Wolves for a game they lost, 4-3, last weekend.
Saturday's turns of events, coupled with Friday's 5-0 victory over the Washington Mustangs improved the Hurricanes' record to 10-8 and left them in fifth place in the Atlantic Division, which if they remained there would be good enough for a postseason playoff berth. The Hurricanes trail fourth-place Raleigh by three standings points. The nine-team Atlantic Division awards five playoff berths.
Connecticut had to forfeit for use of ineligible players.
If that was a gift, the Hurricanes earned Saturday's victory.
The Hurricanes scored early, with Ian Spooner scoring on a header off a crossing pass from Mark Waite less than three minutes into the game.
Before the half ended, Wayne Pratt scored his third goal of the weekend when he controlled a long pass from Anthony Sherwood, faked out two Kickers heading for the box, then beat goalie John Pascarella to the far post.
``An amazing run,'' Waite said of Pratt's goal. ``I thought after that anything's possible.''
The Hurricanes were 2-6 at one point this season and Waite likened the team to Italy, which barely made it out of first-round play in the World Cup, yet finds itself in today's final. ``If they can do it, we can,'' Waite said.
The Hurricanes upped the lead to 3-0 on a leftfooted blast by Byron Mitchell early in the second half, who collected a crossing pass from Blake Rogers after a long run.
Richmond scored twice in the last 15 minutes, first on a header by Leigh Cowlishaw then on a shootout goal by John Duggan following the Hurricanes' seventh foul of the second half. The Hurricanes, however, squeezed in a blast by Karl Byrd for the final count.
The Hurricanes close out the regular season by visiting Baltimore Friday and hosting Greensboro Saturday.
After nine goals in two games, it's hard to believe this is the same team that was shut out in dentist's fashion, four out of five games, at one point in the season.
``It takes any new team time to click,'' Travis said. ``Our hard work is finally paying off and the players are reading each other better.
``From Day 1, making the playoffs was our goal. Now we can achieve it.''
Richmond 0 2 - 2
Hampton Roads 2 2 - 4
Goals: 1, Hampton Roads, Spooner (Waite), 2:26; 2, Hampton Roads, Pratt (Sherwood), 27:55; 3, Hampton Roads, Mitchell (Rogers), 32:57; 4, Richmond, Cowlishaw (Duggan), 45:45; 5, Hampton Roads, Byrd (Haywood), 54:22; 6, Richmond, Duggan (shootout), 56:05.
Shots on goal: Richmond 6-6-10, Hampton Roads 3-4-7.
Saves: Richmond, Pascarella 1-2-3; Hampton Roads, Figureido 4-4-8.
Fouls: Richmond 6, Hampton Roads 7.
A: 1,223. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
L TODD SPENCER
Hampton Roads' Ian Spooner, right, works to control the ball in the
Hurricanes' win. Ricmond's Shawn Docking moves in to challenge.
by CNB